A method for imaging the erosion of a biomaterial is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for imaging a labeled biomaterial so that the erosion of the biomaterial is measured in vivo over a period of time. A biomaterial such as, for example, a hydrogel including polyethylene glycol (PEG) is labeled with a fluorescent or bioluminescent marker. The labeled biomaterial is then employed in the construction of an implanted medical device such as, for example, an endovascular stent. Furthermore, the labeled biomaterial may be utilized to form a drug delivery system that releases a controlled amount of a drug into a local region within a patient. The erosion of the biomaterial is monitored through a noninvasive imaging method.
