Degradation studies of a tracheal stent

• Main Author: Vadlamani Lalitha Deepika
• Other Authors: Subramanian Venkatraman
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/15423
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The major objective of this project is to examine the viability of biodegradable polymers as tracheal stents, for the treatment of tracheal obstruction.In this report, the degradation profiles of PLLA-PCL copolymer with 10% glycerol, TEC and PEG were observed. The 3 films of 0.5mm thickness approximately, required for the study were made and cut to the dimensions of 1 by 1 cm. These squares were then immersed in 100% deionised water and incubated at 370C for a period of 14 weeks. A layer by layer (50 μm) analysis of the 1 by 1 squares was carried out using a microtome and the subsequent characterisation of the weighted average molecular weight of the films was done using gel permeation chromatography (GPC).