Biodegradable polymers fundamentals

For the development of drug delivery systems it is of fundamental importance to achieve the co-precipitation of drugs and biodegradable polymers. The supersaturation working conditions of S AS allow, in many cases, fast and simultaneous precipitation of both polymer and drugs, so that the drugs can be trapped into the polymer matrix. A list of the coprecipitation experimental results is reported in Table 9.9-5. 

The most fundamental classification of polymers is whether they are naturally occurring or synthetic. Common natural polymers (often referred to as biopolymers) include macromolecules such as polysaccharides e.g., starches, sugars, cellulose, gums, etc.), proteins e.g., enzymes), fibers e.g., wool, silk, cotton), polyisoprenes e.g., natural rubber), and nucleic acids e.g., RNA, DNA). The synthesis of biodegradable polymers from natural biopolymer sources is an area of increasing interest, due to dwindling world petroleum supplies and disposal concerns. 

Kaplan DL, Mayer JM, Ball D, McCassie J, Allan AL, Stenhouse P (1993) Fundamentals of biodegradable polymers. Biodegradable polymers and packaging, pp 1-43... 

Kaplan DL (1998) Biopolymers from renewable resources. Springer, Berlin Kaplan DL, Mayer JM, Ball D et al (1993) Fundamentals of biodegradable polymers. In Ching C, Kaplan DL, Thomas EL (eds) Biodegradable polymers and packaging. Technomic, Lancaster Karlsson S, Albertsson A-C (1998) Biodegradable polymers and environmental interaction. Polym Eng Sci 38 1251-1253... 

Nonetheless it will be useful for readers to understand the fundamental concepts responsible for the varied properties of biodegradable polymers introduced in Sections 1.1.1 —1.1.7, regardless of whether they are working in designing new biodegradable polymeric materials or working to develop medical devices. 

Since the beginning of the development of biodegradable polymers, polyesters have played a fundamental role and contributed greatly to the evolution of this field. 

Kaplan, D. L, Mayer, J.M. et al. C. Clung, D.L Kaplan, E. L Thomas (Ed.) Fundamentals of Biodegradable Polymers In Biodegradable Polymers and Packaging, Technomic Publishing AG, Basel, 1994... 

Tsung, J. and Burgess, D.). (2012) Biodegradable polymers in drug delivery systems, in Fundamentals and Applications of Controlled Release... 

Buchanan CM, Gardner RM, Komarek RJ, Gedon SC, and White AW [1993b]. Fundamentals of Biodegradable Polymers and Materials, Technomic, Lancaster, PA... 

This book covers both fundamental and applied research associated with polymer-based nanocomposites, and presents possible directions for further development of high performanee nanocomposites. It has two main parts. Part I has 12 chapters which are entirely dedicated to those polymer nanocomposites containing layered silicates (clay) as an additive. Many thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers are included, such as polyamide (Chapter 1), polypropylene (Chapter 4), polystyrene (Chapter 5), poly(butylene terephthalate) (Chapter 9), poly(ethyl acrylate) (Chapter 6), epoxy resin (Chapter 2), biodegradable polymers (Chapter 3), water soluble polymers (Chapter 8), acrylate photopolymers (Chapter 7) and rubbers (Chapter 12). In addition to synthesis and structural characterisation of polymer/clay nanocomposites, their unique physical properties like flame retardancy (Chapter 10) and gas/liquid barrier (Chapter 11) properties are also discussed. Furthermore, the crystallisation behaviour of polymer/clay nanocomposites and the significance of chemical compatibility between a polymer and clay in affecting clay dispersion are also considered. 

Polymers are a fundamental part of the modem world, showing up in everything from coffee cups to cars to clothing. In medicine, too, their importance is growing for purposes as diverse as cardiac pacemakers, artificial heart valves, and biodegradable sutures. 

---