Plasticizers for a biodegradable scaffolding and methods of forming same

A method of fabricating a medical device, the method comprising:

• processing a polymer to form a medical device or a polymer construct, the processing occurring at a high temperature, the high temperature being above the melting temperature of the polymer, if the polymer exhibits a melting temperature above 35° C., or if the polymer does not exhibit a melting temperature above 35° C., at a temperature 100° C. higher than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer, or 75° C., if 75° C. is greater than 100° C. above the Tg of the polymer;
• adding a plasticizer to the polymer prior to, during, or both prior to and during the processing of the polymer;
• wherein the plasticizer is different from any solvent used in production of the polymer;
• removing at least 75 weight % of the plasticizer from the processed polymer, the removal comprising heating the processed polymer to and maintaining the processed polymer at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer or above 28° C., if the glass transition temperature of the polymer is lower than 25° C., and below the melting temperature of the polymer, if the polymer has a melting temperature above 28° C., or if the polymer does not have a melting temperature above 28° C., below the temperature that is 75° C. greater than the glass transition temperature of the polymer, or below 60° C., if 60° C. is higher than 75° C. greater than the glass transition temperature of the polymer;
• optionally executing one or more additional operations on the medical device or on the polymer construct;
• wherein the polymer has a number average molecular weight as measured by GPC using polystyrene standards of at least 250,000 g/mole, but not more than 3,000,000 g/mole, the polymer has a weight average molecular weight of at least 300,000 g/mole but not more than 4,500,000 g/mole, an inherent viscosity of at least 3.3 dl/g, but not more than 15 dl/g, or a combination thereof;
• and
• wherein if a polymer construct is formed, at least one additional operation is executed to form a medical device from the polymer construct.