Biodegradable polymers biological applications

PHAs can consist of a diverse set of repeating unit structures and have been studied intensely because the physical properties of these biopolyesters can be similar to petrochemical-derived plastics such as polypropylene (see Table 1). These biologically produced polyesters have already found application as bulk commodity plastics, fishing lines, and for medical use. PHAs have also attracted much attention as biodegradable polymers that can be produced from biorenewable resources. Many excellent reviews on the in vivo or in vitro synthesis of PHAs and their properties and applications exist, underlining the importance of this class of polymers [2, 6, 7, 12, 26-32]. 

Drug Delivery Applications and Biological Fate of Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers... 

Preparation of poly(8-caprolactone) (PCL), a biodegradable polymer that finds applications in the biomedical field for prostheses, bandages, or controlled drug release matrix for active substances, was successfully accomplished by heating the monomer in the presence of nontoxic, biologically acceptable lanthanide halides (SmBrj, SmCl3, YbBrj) as initiators in a scientific microwave unit (Scheme 3.5). PCL with a Af of 14,100 g/mol was obtained after heating at 200 °C for 45 min in the absence of solvent. 

The review by Barrows is brief with an emphasis on their applications with an extensive Hsts of patents. The book and chapter by Chu et al. focuses on the most successful use of biodegradable polymers in medicine, namely wound closure biomaterials like sutures. It is so far the most comprehensive review of aU aspects of biodegradable wound closure biomaterials with very detailed chemical, physical, mechanical, biodegradable, and biological information. The chapter by Kimura is an overview of the subject with... 

Philip S, Keshavarz T, Roy I (2007) Polyhydroxyalkanoates biodegradable polymers with a range of applications. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 82 233-247 Pierce L, Schroth MN (1994) Detection of pseudomonas colonies that accumulate poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate on Nile blue medium. Plant Dis 78 683-685 Pijuan M, Casas C, Baeza JA (2009) Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis using different carbon sources by two enhanced biological phosphorus removal microbial communities. Process Biochem 44 97-105... 

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