From Material Processing to Clinical Performance: Quantifying PLLA Degradation in Resorbable Implants

Abstract

The clinical background for the current work is the development of a temporary bioresorbable stent to maintain fallopian tube patency during healing. Such a device requires predictable short-term mechanical strength followed by controlled resorption, making a precise understanding of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) degradation essential. Reported degradation behavior varies widely across the literature due to differences in processing, geometry, and experimental conditions. To address this variability, a harmonized literaturebased dataset was established, and the final residual-mass meta-regression model integrated 128 measurements from 13 study IDs across six publications with complete covariate information. A multilevel mixed-effects meta-regression model showed that elevated temperatures and alkaline media accelerate mass loss, while physiological conditions (37 °C, phosphate buffer saline (PBS)) exhibit highly consistent degradation patterns. A multilevel mixed-effects metaregression model confirmed that form factor was one of the strongest predictors of residual mass, with films and fibres retaining more mass than 3D-printed structures, whereas PLLA grade showed no stable independent effect.