Effects of gamma and ethylenoxide sterilization on different bioresorbable polymers

Abstract

Gas sterilization by means of ethylene oxide leaves residues in harmful quantities to bioresorbable implants. An alternative sterilization method is proposed which uses gamma irradiation. However gamma sterilization does result in a substantial increase of the degradation kinetics. This increase has to be taken in to account before selecting bioresorbable polymers for the development of implants.</p