Interfacial reactions in the degradation of polymers by cells and bacteria

Abstract

Polymers are widely used within medicine and dentistry for implantation in the body. The interface between the polymers and tissues is clearly of considerable importance in determining the performance of the device, where adsorption of macromolecules and attachment and activation of cells are potentially the crucial rate‐determining steps of the overall polymer‐tissue interfacial reaction. In this paper a number of the individual reactions which contribute to the overall phenomena are discussed, concentrating on the surface degradation of the polymer, the role of cells, cell derived enzymes and free radicals.