The present invention provides bioactive polymer compositions that can beformulated to release a wound healing agent at a controlled rate by adjustingthe various components of the composition. The composition can be used in anexternal wound dressing, as a polymer implant for delivery of the woundhealing agent to an internal body site, or as a coating on the surface of animplantable surgical device to deliver wound healing agents that arecovalently attached to a biocompatible, biodegradable polymer and/or embeddedwithin a hydrogel. Methods of using the invention bioactive polymercompositions to promote natural healing of wounds, especially chronic wounds,are also provided. Examples of biodegradable copolymer polyesters useful informing the blood~-compatible, hydrophilic layer or coating includecopolyester amides, copolyester urethanes, glycolide-lactide copolymers,glycolide-caprolactone copolymers, poly-3-hydroxy butyrate~valeratecopolymers, and copolymers of the cyclic diester monomer,3~(S)[(alkyloxycarbonyl)methyl]-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione, with L-lactide. Theglycolide~-lactide copolymers include poly(glycolide-L-lactide) copolymersformed utilizing a monomer mole ratio of glycolic acid to L-lactic acidranging from 5:95 to 95:5 and preferably a monomer mole ratio of glycolic acidto L-lactic acid ranging from 45:65 to 95:5. The glycolide-caprolactonecopolymers include glycolide and .epsilon.-caprolactone block copolymer, e.g.,Monocryl or Poliglecaprone.
