In vitro degradation characteristics of polyglycolic/polycaprolactone (PGA/PCL) copolymer material using Mach-Zehnder interferometer

Biopolymers have many applications in many medical sectors. Polyglycolic/polycaprolactone (PGA/PCL) copolymer as a monofilament absorbable suture has been particularly used in soft tissue approximation and ligation. In this paper, the investigation of the in vitro degradation mechanism of PGA/PCL copolymer material was studied. The degradation process was carried out using a phosphate-buffered saline solution of 7.4 pH at a temperature of 37 degrees C. The degradation time was ranged from two to 10 days. The optical, structural and mechanical characteristics of PGA/PCL copolymer material investigated were determined. Mach-Zehnder interferometer was employed to determine the birefringence and refractive indices of PGA/PCL. Mach-Zehnder interferometer equipped with a mechanical device was used to measure Young's modulus, the elastic shear modulus, and compressibility at different degradation days. XRD technique was used to investigate the variation in the structure of PGA/PCL copolymer material through a degree of crystallinity measurements during the degradation process. The obtained results from XRD technique have ratified the obtained results by Mach-Zehnder interferometer at the same time of degradation. Microinterferograms have presented for illustration.