Biodegradable Polymers

INQUIRY

Biodegradable polymers are a type of biopolymer that can be hydrolyzed or degraded by enzymes to yield natural by-products such as gases, water, biomass, and inorganic salts after use. Biodegradable polymers can be produced or created naturally. The functional group's ester, amide, and ether make up the majority of them.

The properties and processes of biodegradable polymers are determined by their structure. Condensation processes, ring-opening polymerization, and metal catalysts are commonly used to make these polymers. Customers can choose from a variety of biodegradable polymers with different molecular weights and decomposition rates to meet their needs.

Applications:

Biodegradable polymers are available in a variety of forms and have a wide range of applications. Controlled/slow release drug delivery, tissue engineering, and temporary prosthetic implants are all common uses for biodegradable polymers.

Fig 1. Optical microscopy image of a polyphosphazene coated metallic microneedle (left) and histological section of porcine skin after coated microneedle insertion (right).

With advances in polymer synthesis technology, the paradigm of using a few well-characterized polymers (e.g., PLGA and collagen) for all biomedical applications has shifted to the use of heavily researched and newly developed polymers that can meet certain specific needs.

In addition, the advent of combinatorial polymers holds promise for the creation of novel materials that possess the properties required for highly specific applications. Further developments in processing technology, especially with the help of computer-aided techniques, allow the formation of particles and scaffolds with extremely complex structures that can mimic their biological counterparts.

Reference

Andrianov A. K, et al. (2009). "Poly[di(carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene] Is A Potent Adjuvant for Intradermal Immunization." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 106: 18936-18941.