Development of a Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymer Capable of Long-Term Release of Biologically Active Substances for Medicine and Agriculture.

A process was developed for producing biocompatible and biodegradable polymer films based on high-molecular-weight polylactide with properties necessary for medical and agricultural applications. A method was devised for the inclusion of active substances (gentamicin sulfate, lincomycin hydrochloride, or cefotaxime) into high-molecular-weight polylactide films. The rate of release of active substances from polylactide can vary with time according to a decaying exponential law or nearly linearly. The release of active substances is significantly affected by pH of the solution surrounding the film. It was found that the dynamics of release of active substances from biocompatible biodegradable polymer films based on high-molecular-weight polylactide depends on the properties of the immobilized substance, the film preparation method, and the conditions of extraction. The biocompatible biodegradable polymer films based on high-molecular-weight polylactide are quite suitable for the manufacture of coatings for stents and prostheses with prolonged and controlled drug release into the surrounding tissues and for agricultural applications to improve crop preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]