Nontoxic sterilizable polymers

Polymers used in nontoxic sterilizable items, such as tubing, artificial organs, and wound coverings, must be able to withstand sterilization by ethylene oxide, steam autoclave, or gamma radiation. For medical products sterilized by gamma irradiation, only plastics that do not degrade or discolor on exposure to radiation, such as polyester and polycarbonates, can be used. 

Biodegradable or bioabsorbable polyesters including PLAs can be applied as biomedical materials [41]. Table 8.11 [4] shows the functions and purposes of bioabsorbable polymers. Bioabsorbable biomedical materials should be nontoxic, effective, sterilizable and biocompatible. In addition, bioabsorbable biomedical materials should have the appropriate degradation rate required for each application (Figure 8.27 [13]). 

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