Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating the burned surface of an animal by administering to said surface a contact composition comprising a hydrophobic, bioerodible polymer containing an agent selected from the group consisting of antibacterial, antibiotic, antifungal, proteolytic enzyme and mixtures thereof, which composition when placed in contact with the burned surface maintains homeostasis including prevention of tissue dehydration and thermal loss, and as the polymer bioerodes over time, releases agent to produce a continuous chemoprophylatic or chemotherapeutic effect.

Abstract: Poly(orthoester) co- and homopolymers and poly(orthocarbonate) co- and homopolymers comprising (1) a repeating dioxycarbon unit in the polymeric backbone having a plurality of organic groups pendant therefrom, and (2) a bridging moiety having at least one carbonyloxy group contained therein are disclosed. The polymers are represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a bridging moiety and is either R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 arranged in a random manner along the polymeric backbone to form a copolymer containing both R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 with R.sub.1 an aliphatic, an alicyclic or an aromatic group and R.sub.2 is a ##STR2## GROUP WITH R.sub.1 as defined and R.sub.3 an aliphatic, an alicyclic or aromatic group, or wherein R is a bridging moiety and is only R.sub.2 to form a homopolymer with R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 as defined above, and a is 0 to 1, b is 2 to 6, and n and the sum of x and y are positive integers.

Abstract: Polyhydroxyacetic ester, also called polyglycolic acid (PGA), has surgically useful mechanical properties. On implantation, in living mammalian tissue, the polyglycolic acid is absorbed, and replaced by living tissue. Sutures, clips and storage pellets having medicaments incorporated therein can be used for both their own mechanical properties and as a delayed release system for medicaments.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating the burned surface of an animal by administering to said surface a contact composition comprising a hydrophobic, bioerodible polymer containing an agent selected from the group consisting of antibacterial, antibiotic, antifungal, proteolytic enzyme and mixtures thereof, which composition when placed in contact with the burned surface maintains homeostasis including prevention of tissue dehydration and thermal loss, and as the polymer bioerodes over time, releases agent to produce a continuous chemoprophylatic or chemotherapeutic effect.

Abstract: Useful surgical elements consist of a sterile synthetic copolymer containing, by mole percent, about 15 to 85 percent glycolic acid and 85 to 15 percent lactic acid, which has enhanced tissue absorption as compared with polylactic acid and enhanced solubility in organic solvents as compared with polyglycolic acid and hence can be cast into sheets during preparation and implantation. Such surgical element may be used alone or in combination with polyglycolic acid or a coating for polyglycolic acid surgical elements. Other comonomers may be introduced into the system.