In vitro heterogeneous degradation of poly(n-alkyl alpha-cyanoacrylates).

Methods by which in vitro heterogeneous phase degradation rates of the poly(n-alkyl alpha-cyanoacrylates) have been directly obtained are described. The data indicate that the rates of degradation in aqueous buffer solutions depend not only upon pH of the medium and length of the monomer alkyl side chain, but also critically upon polymer particle specific surface, particle size, polymer molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution. A modification of the currently held theory of degradation of these polymers is required, and postulated.