Vibrational spectroscopy of polymeric biomaterials

This review highlights the potential of vibrational spectroscopy for investigating the molecular structure of some polymeric materials used in biomedical applications in relation to their biocompatibility. Many types of polymers are used for biomedical purposes; depending on the application, bioresorbable or non-bioresorbable (semi-crystalline or amorphous) polymers are used. Among bioresorbable polymers, we focused on homopolymers and copolymers based on poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid) and poly(epsilon -caprolactone). Being a nondestructive technique, Raman spectroscopy proved particularly suitable for evaluating the molecular structure and crystallinity of bioresorbable polymers and their degradation products. For various biomedical applications, non-degradable semi-crystalline polymers have been widely employed; in this class of polymers, we concentrated on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) used in orthopaedic implants (total hip and knee joints). Vibrational spectroscopy appeared particularly suitable in studying the oxidation and crystallinity of UHMWPE. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.