Development of poly(trimethylene carbonate) based implant devices and their application in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Soluble solutions

PhD ceremony: Mr. A.C. van Leeuwen, 16.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Development of poly(trimethylene carbonate) based implant devices and their application in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Soluble solutions

Promotor(s): prof. R.R.M. Bos, prof. D.W. Grijpma

Faculty: Medical Sciences

A variety of biodegradable polymeric materials are available for use in bone and tissue engineering applications. A biodegradable polymeric material that has gained more attention during the last decades is poly(trimethylene carbonate; PTMC).

PTMC is an amorphous polymer with a low glass transition temperature (Tg). Due to its low Tg and amorphous nature, PTMC is a very flexible polymer with rubberlike properties. By gamma irradiation under vacuum, form-stable elastomeric networks can be formed. Furthermore PTMC is both biocompatible and degrades by surface erosion without the formation of acidic degradation products. PTMC appears promising for use in guided bone regeneration techniques as applied in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Therefore, the general aim of this PhD research was to develop and test medical devices based on PTMC for use in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The focus of the research was on the development of (1) resorbable barrier membranes to be used in guided bone regeneration procedures prior to implant dentistry and (2) the development of resorbable osteoinductive composite sheets for guided bone regeneration in orbital floor fractures. The findings of the studies show that with regard to bone formation, the developed medical devices seem promising for guided bone regeneration techniques. Currently, research is focussing on further improvement of these materials and the introduction of these resorbable devices into treatment modalities in humans.