Degradable polyester carbonate biomaterials for vascular regeneration

Polymers were in the molecular weight range of 18 – 83 x10 3 g/mol and showed a decrease in block length and crystallinity with high TMC incorporation. Solvent casting of these materials resulted in relatively homogeneous films, as imaged by SEM. These films underwent mechanical testing and degradation studies to find a matrix relationship between copolymer composition, mechanical properties and degradation time. The copolymer films with low TMC content were generally stiff and tough, while high TMC resulted in more ductile materials. During degradation the higher TMC copolymers became more hydrated during the later stages of degradation as compared to those with low TMC content (Fig. 1). Additional information gained from the mass loss profile, and changes in the thermal properties, composition and molecular weights during degradation, supported the mechanism of bulk degradation.