Biopolymers biomedical polymers

Nakache E, Poulain N, Candau F, Orecchioni A-M, Irache JM (2000) Biopolymer and polymer nanoparticles and their biomedical application. In Nalwa HS (ed), Handbook of Nanostructured Materials and Nanotechnology. Vol 5 Organics, Polymers, and Biological Materials. New York Academic Press, pp 577-635... 

Biopolymers Biomedical and Environmental Applications Table 11.1 (cont.) List of bacterial polymers and applications. 

Biopolymers are often used throughout the human body they are also called biomedical polymers. A biomedical material can be of natural origin (biopolymer) or a synthetic polymer and can be used for any period of time, as a whole or as part of a system that treats, augments, or replaces any organ or function of the body, as well as for medical technical applications outside the body. When a prosthetic device is placed into the body, two aspects must be taken into account functional performance and biocompatibility. The former requires special functions of the biomedical polymers, in particular including load transmission and stress distribution. Biocompatibility between a polymer and a biological system (e.g., soft tissue,... 

Recently, for the example ofpoly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and a number of its composites [14-16] we have studied physical-chemical, dynamic and transport characteristics of macroscopic biodegradable matrices and microparticles of PHB which were designed for controlled dmg release [16, 17]. High biocompatibility, controlled biodegradation and appropriate mechanical properties allow one to consider this biopolymer as one of the most promising biomedical polymers. Besides therapeutical aims, PHB is widely used as bone implants, nervous conduits, matrices in cell engineering, filters and membranes, in cardiology and in the other areas [14,18,19]. 

Significant developments have occurred in recent years in the fields of biopolymers and biomaterials. New synthetic materials have been synthesized and tested for a variety of biomedical and related applications from linings for artifical hearts to artifical pancreas devices and from intraocular lenses to drug delivery systems. Of particular interest in the future is the development of intelligent polymers or materials with special functional groups that can be used either for specialty medical applications or as templates or scaffolds for tissue regeneration. 

Biomedical materials include metals, ceramics, natural polymers (biopolymers), and synthetic polymers of simple or complex chemical and/or physical structure. This volume addresses, to a large measure, fundamental research on phenomena related to the use of synthetic polymers as blood-compatible biomaterials. Relevant research stems from major efforts to investigate clotting phenomena related to the response of blood in contact with polymeric surfaces, and to develop systems with nonthrombogenic behavior in short- and long-term applications. These systems can be used as implants or replacements, and they include artificial hearts, lung oxygenators, hemodialysis systems, artificial blood vessels, artificial pancreas, catheters, etc. 

Gum Arabica is a natural plant gum that exudates a carbohydrate type and is an electroactive biopolymer. Gum Arabica and its complexes have potential applications in developing ionic devices such as batteries, sensors, bio-sensors, and other electronic applications, in addition to solar material, energy storage material and nanoscience. Biopolymers obtained from bacteria are rapidly emerging because they are biodegradable and available in abundance. Simple methods are being developed to grow and harvest the polymers to exploit them for numerous industrial and biomedical applications. Electronic structures and conduction properties of biopolymers are also discussed in Part III. 

P. L.Nayak is an eminent polymer scientist and is now the Chairman of P.L.Nayak Research Foundation, Cuttack, India. He possesses both PhD and DSc Degrees in Polymer Science and Technology. He has done extensive research work on biopolymers, polymers for biomedical applications, nanomedicine, nanobiotechnology, controlled drug delivery and conducting polymers. About 80 of his students have been awarded a PhD Degree. He has published more than 400 peer reviewed research papers in international journals in various fields of Polymer Science and Technology. 

Chitosan has received considerable attention as a functional biopolymer for diverse pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. It is a nontoxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer. Chitosans can be formulated as nanocarriers mainly by... 

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