absorbable

Absorbable describes substances that can be absorbed, broken down, or otherwise assimilated by a living organism. In medicine and biology, the term is often used to distinguish materials that degrade and vanish inside the body from those that remain permanently. Bioabsorbable or absorbable devices and products are designed to be resorbed over time, reducing the need for surgical removal or long-term presence in tissues.

Bioabsorbable medical materials include sutures, implants, and membranes. They are typically designed to degrade by hydrolysis or enzymatic processes and are absorbed and eliminated through natural routes. The degradation rate depends on material composition, molecular weight, crystallinity, and the local biological environment; some sutures resorb in weeks, while others take months to years.

Common absorbable polymers include polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA) and their copolymers (PLGA), and polycaprolactone (PCL). These polymers may be used as sutures, pins, plates, or drug-delivery devices. Bioabsorbable products are contrasted with non-absorbable materials that persist and may require removal. In nutrition, absorbable nutrients are those that the body can take up and utilize.

Safety and regulatory considerations emphasize biocompatibility, predictable degradation, and control of inflammatory responses. Research continues to optimize mechanical strength, degradation timelines, and clinical outcomes for absorbable devices.