bioabsorbable

Bioabsorbable refers to materials designed to perform a temporary function in a living body and then be gradually broken down and absorbed or excreted. Such materials aim to provide necessary support or function during healing and then disappear, reducing or eliminating the need for a second procedure to remove an implant.

Most bioabsorbable implants are polymers that degrade by hydrolysis (for example polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, and their copolymers PLGA) or by enzymatic action in natural polymers such as collagen or gelatin. Degradation products are typically metabolized and cleared by normal body pathways, for instance lactic and glycolic acids converted to carbon dioxide and water. The rate of absorption depends on material choice, molecular weight, crystallinity, and device design, and may range from weeks to years.

Common applications include sutures, surgical meshes, orthopedic screws and pins, fixation devices for bones, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery systems. Biodegradable vascular devices have been investigated, but clinical use varies by region and device type.

Advantages of bioabsorbables include reduced need for hardware removal, lower long-term foreign body load, and potential for local drug delivery. Limitations include variability in degradation timing, loss of mechanical strength before tissue healing, risk of inflammatory or foreign body reactions, and higher cost or manufacturing complexity.

Regulatory assessment emphasizes biocompatibility and predictable degradation. Standards such as ISO 10993 cover in vitro and in vivo testing, while device approvals require evidence of safety and performance, including characterization of degradation products and long-term outcomes.