Qualifier for a substance or device that undergoes biodegradation.
Notes: - High molecular mass lactic acid-based polyesters are not degraded by animal cells or environmental micro-organisms. Therefore, the use of the term biodegradable is inappropriate and misleading, unless biodegradation under particular conditions is proved. The correct qualification is "hydrolytically degradable".
- As hydrolytic degradation leads to low molar mass end-products that can be biodegraded, excreted via kidneys and lungs after biomineralisation, or biorecycled by living organisms or micro-organisms, lactic acid-based polyesters are bioresorbable.
Source:
PAC, 2020, 92, 193. 'Nomenclature and terminology for linear lactic acid-based polymers (IUPAC Recommendations 2019)' on page 206 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2017-1007)