Structure, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Applications of Biodegradable Polymers

Structure, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Applications of Biodegradable Polymers 

Mazhar Ul-Islam , Shaukat Khan, Muhammad Wajid Ullah and Joong Kon Park  

Keywords Biodegradable polymers, chemiccd structure, clcisstfication, phcumaceuticcd 

Vijay Kumar Thakur and Manju Kumari Thakur (eds.), Handbook of Polymers for Pharmaceutical Technologies, Volume 3 (517-540) 2015 Scrivener Publishing LLC 

This chapter describes the historical development of polymers and the basis of their classification. Based on their origin and mode of synthesis, biodegradable polymers are categorized into various classes. The structure, chemistry, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of these biodegradable polymers are discussed and, at the end of the chapter, their applications in pharmaceutical and medical fields are summarized. The discussed content will provide readers with an insight into the basic concept of biodegradable polymers and their role in everyday life. 

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