Which statement about polymer erosion is NOT true?

Study for the Tissue Engineering Exam. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your assessment!

In tissue engineering, understanding the mechanisms of polymer erosion is vital for developing effective biomaterials. The statement that most biodegradable polymers degrade primarily by surface degradation is not true.

Most biodegradable polymers tend to degrade through bulk degradation. This means that the degradation process occurs throughout the entire volume of the material rather than just on the surface. In bulk degradation, water infiltrates the polymer, leading to hydrolytic cleavage of the polymer chains internally, which results in a gradual decrease in molecular weight and changes in mechanical properties over time.

Surface degradation, on the other hand, can lead to a scenario where the outer layer of the polymer may erode while the inner layers remain intact, thus maintaining the bulk of the material for a longer period. This can often be beneficial in applications where a controlled release of the embedded drugs or growth factors is desired.

The other statements highlight important aspects of polymer degradation: bulk degradation decreases molecular weight and mechanical properties over time, surface degradation may preserve the internal molecular structure initially, and both types of degradation lead to mass loss as they progress. However, the assertion that most biodegradable polymers primarily degrade by surface degradation does not reflect the predominant mechanisms observed in many common biodegradable polymers used in tissue engineering.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy