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Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) that contains a pyrogen such as endotoxin due to a process of producing the PHA is treated to remove the pyrogen by a process that does not affect the inherent chemical and physical properties of the PHA to obtain a biocompatible PHA. PHA produced by fermentation with a Gram negative bacteria can be treated with an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide or benzoyl peroxide to reduce the endotoxin content to less than 20 endotoxin units/gram of PHA to produce PHA that does not elicit an acute inflammatory response when implanted in an animal. The PHA may have a melting point or glass transition temperature less than 136.degree. C., and can be chemically modified or derivatized such as by covalently coupling an attachment or targeting molecule. The PHA may be used to form various medical devices, and can be used for in vivo applications including tissue coatings, stents, sutures, tubing, bone and other prostheses, bone and tissue cements, tissue regenerating devices, wound dressings, drug delivery, and for diagnostic and prophylactic uses.

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First Claim