| abstract |
Biodegradable contraceptive implants and methods of making and using thereof, are preferably formed of poly(ω-pentadecalactone-co-p-dioxanone) [poly(PDL-co-DO)], a family of polyester copolymers that degrade slowly in the presence of water. The material is suitable as the basis of a biodegradable contraceptive implant that provides sustained release of a progestin at a rate similar to a commercially available nondegradable implant. In a preferred embodiment, the progestin is levonorgestrel (LNG), a hormone that prevents pregnancy by preventing the release of an egg from the ovary or by preventing fertilization of the egg by sperm. The implant may be inserted subcutaneously, allowing degradation over a period of up to about 18 or 24 months, eliminating the need for removal by a trained practitioner. |