Modelling Degradation of Bioresorbable Polymeric Medical Devices

The use of bioresorbable polymers in stents, fixation devices and tissue engineering is revolutionising medicine. Both industry and academic researchers are interested in using computer modelling to replace some experiments which are costly and time consuming. This book provides readers with a comprehensive review of modelling polymers and polymeric medical devices as an alternative to practical experiments. Chapters in part one provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of biodegradation. Part two looks at a wide range of degradation theories for bioresorbable polymers and devices. The final set of chapters look at advances in modelling biodegradation of bioresorbable polymers. This book is an essential guide to those concerned with replacing tests and experiments with modelling.

Provides a comprehensive mathematical framework for computer modelling of polymers and polymeric medical devices that can significantly reduce the number of experiments needed.

Reviews the fundamental methods of modelling degradation, and applies these to particular materials including amorphous bioresorbable polyesters, semicrystalline biodegradable polyesters, and composite materials made of biodegradable polyesters and triclcium phosphates

Part One: Fundamental methods of modelling degradation of bioresorbable polymeric medical devices 1. Introduction to computer modelling for the design of biodegradable medical devices 2. Modelling degradation of amorphous biodegradable polyesters: basic model 3. Modelling degradation of amorphous biodegradable polyesters: advanced model 4. Modelling degradation of semi-crystalline biodegradable polyesters 5. Modelling biodegradation of composite materials made of biodegradable polyesters and tricalcium phosphates (TCPs) 6. Modelling heterogeneous degradation of polymeric devices due to short chain diffusion

Part Two: Advanced methods of modelling degradation of bioresorbable polymeric medical devices 7. Finite element analysis (FEA) of biodegradation of polymeric medical devices 8. The effective diffusion coefficient of degrading polymers 9. Mechanical properties of biodegradable polymers for medical applications 10. Molecular and multi-scale modelling methods of polymer device degradation