Green polymers medical applications

Green plastics comprise only a very small part (less than 1%) of today s plastics. They do, however, make up a significant part of some specialty, niche markets starch-based loose-fill packaging now constitutes 30% of the loose-fill packaging market. The plastics described here are those currently commercially available, and are limited mainly to those available in the United States. Manufacturers are named only for illustrative purposes the list is not intended to be comprehensive. The plastics materials are described generically, with respect to the major polymer constituent(s) for each generic type there are likely to be many specific formulations. Brief mention is made, at the end, of some materials that have been studied in the laboratory. Biomedical applications are described separately (see Biodegradable Polymers, Medical Applications). 

Since there are several chapters in this book that are devoted to the medical applications of polyesters, which the readership is encouraged to read, the emphasis of this chapter therefore is on reviewing the strategies and chemistries that have been employed to derivatize polyester backbones. In order to ensure the relevance of these backbone modification approaches to current topics in medicine and the green technologies, the chapter focuses on paradigms that have generality to either a polymer family or a routine synthesis route. 

Hence, in the near future PHAs can be used to replace the currently used petrochemical-based plastics for certain suitable bulk applications and medical applications. These are certainly the natural green polymers of the future with a huge potential. 

Green RA, Back S, Poole-Warren LA, Marbars PJ (2010) Crarducting polymer-hydrogels for medical electrode applications. Sci Technol Adv Mater 11 014107... 

---