Bioabsorbable polymer compositions exhibiting enhanced crystallization and hydrolysis rates

A composition comprising:

• (a) a drug delivery carrier comprising a first amount of a fully amorphous bioabsorbable polymer having a first hydrolysis rate and a first molecular weight distribution;
• and a second amount of said fully amorphous bioabsorbable polymer having a second hydrolysis rate and a second molecular weight distribution having a weight average molecular weight between about 10,000 to about 50,000 Daltons, the weight average molecular weight ratio of said first molecular weight distribution to said second molecular weight distribution is at least about two to one;
• and
• (b) a pharmaceutically active agent;
• wherein a substantially homogeneous blend of said first and second amounts of said fully amorphous bioabsorbable polymer is formed in a ratio of between about 50/50 to about 95/5 weight/weight percent, said substantially homogeneous blend having a hydrolysis rate greater than each of said first hydrolysis rate and said second hydrolysis rate.

A medical device produced from a process comprising (i) the step of injection molding or extruding the medical device from a bimodal polymer composition or (ii) the step of subjecting a medical device made from said bimodal polymer composition to a heat treatment step, said bimodal polymer composition comprising:

• (a) a first amount of a fully amorphous bioabsorbable polymer having a first hydrolysis rate and a first molecular weight distribution;
• and
• (b) a second amount of said fully amorphous bioabsorbable polymer having a second hydrolysis rate and a second molecular weight distribution having a weight average molecular weight between about 10,000 to about 50,000 Daltons, the weight average molecular weight ratio of said first molecular weight distribution to said second molecular weight distribution is at least about two to one;
• wherein a substantially homogeneous blend of said first and second amounts of said fully amorphous bioabsorbable polymer is formed in a ratio of between about 50/50 to about 95/5 weight/weight percent, said substantially homogeneous blend having a hydrolysis rate greater than each of said first hydrolysis rate and said second hydrolysis rate.

A method of making a medical device, comprising (i) the step of injection molding or extruding the medical device from a bimodal polymer composition or (ii) the step of subjecting a medical device made from the bimodal polymer composition to a heat treatment step, the polymer composition, comprising:

• (a) a first amount of a fully amorphous bioabsorbable polymer having a first hydrolysis rate and a first molecular weight distribution;
• and
• (b) a second amount of said fully amorphous bioabsorbable polymer having a second hydrolysis rate and a second molecular weight distribution having a weight average molecular weight between about 10,000 to about 50,000 Daltons, the weight average molecular weight ratio of said first molecular weight distribution to said second molecular weight distribution is at least about two to one;
• wherein a substantially homogeneous blend of said first and second amounts of said fully amorphous bioabsorbable polymer is formed in a ratio of between about 50/50 to about 95/5 weight/weight percent, said substantially homogeneous blend having a hydrolysis rate greater than each of said first hydrolysis rate and said second hydrolysis rate.