Fig. 2.

In vitro degradation of electrospun PCLA grafts. Grafts were incubated in PBS at 37 °C and longitudinally assessed for mass and uniaxial tensile strength. (A) Graph of resulting data (mean ± SEM) reported as percentages of original values as measured at day 0. Grafts lost approximately 50% of original tensile strength by 7 weeks and exhibited complete loss of tensile strength by week 12. In comparison, graft mass was approximately 94% of the original value at 12 weeks and decreased to approximately 70% at 21 weeks. Scanning electron images of the graft surface at (B) 12 weeks present no evidence of degradation but at (C) 18 weeks signs of fiber degradation and fissuring were apparent.