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. 2021 Dec 30;14(1):127. doi: 10.3390/polym14010127

Table 4.

Comparative analysis of biopolymers and synthetic polymers.

Polymer Type Lifespan/Degradation Time Mechanism of Degradation Reference
Collagen types I, II, III Bio/ Semi-synthetic 12 h Enzymatic: collagenase [124]
Cross-linked collagen Semi-synthetic >6 weeks Enzymatic: collagenase [125]
Alginate Semi-synthetic ~80 days Hydrolytic disintegration [126]
Cross-linked chitosan Semi-synthetic >20 weeks Enzymatic: chitosanase and lysosome [127]
Hyaluronan films Biopolymer 1 week to 4 months Enzymatic: hyaluronidase [128]
Braided silk Biopolymer 6 weeks Proteolysis [129]
Polycaprolactone (PCL) Synthetic >24 months Hydrolytic [130]
PLA Synthetic >24 months Hydrolytic [130]
PHA/PHB Synthetic >24 months Bacterial fermentation [131]