Synthetic biodegradable

The ultrasound contrast agents are manufactured from nontoxic natural or synthetic biodegradable materials (e.g., lipids or proteins), and a small amount of an inert low-solubility non-reactive gas (e.g., perfluorocarbon). These components have been shown to be harmless to the patient unlike the tens of milliliters of concentrated viscous solutions of the widely used X-ray contrast agents (which may sometimes result in nephrotoxicity). 

The most common synthetic biodegradable polymers for suture material and their corresponding weight loss in aqueous solution are listed in Table 3.10. Of these, poly(glycolic acid), PGA, poly(lactic acid), PLA, and copolymers of these two polyesters are the most widely used for resorbable sutme material. PGA is a tough. 

Anderson JM. Perspectives on the in vivo responses of biodegradable polymers. In Hollinger JO, ed. Biomedical Applications of Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers. Boca Raton, FL CRC Press, 1995 223-233. 

Figure 14.24a), have been developed. Other common categories of degradable plastics include synthetic biodegradable plastics which are broken down by bacteria, as well as plastics which dissolve in water (Figure 14.24b). The property that allows plastic to dissolve in water has been used in relatively new products, including soluble capsules containing liquid detergent. However, the vast majority of polymers are still non-biodegradable.

Naughton G.K., Bartel R., Mansbridge J., Synthetic biodegrable polymer scaffolds in Attala A., Mooney D.J., Vacanti J.P., Langer R. (eds) Synthetic Biodegradable Polymer Scaffolds, Birkhauser, Boston, 1997,121-147. 

Dunn R.L., Clinical apphcations and update on the poly(a-hydroxy acids) in Hollinger J.O. (ed.) Biomedical Applications of Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers, CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton, 1995,17-31. 

Leong, K. Synthetic biodegradable polymer drug delivery systems, in Polymer for Controlled Drug Delivery, ed. P. Tarcha. Boca Raton FL CRC Press, 1991, pp. 127-148. 

Middleton JC, Tipton AJ, Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers as Medical Devices, Medical Device and Diagnosis Industry, Los Angeles, CA A Canon Communications LLC, 1998,... 

In addition to synthetic biodegradable polymers discussed so far, naturally occurring biopolymers have also been used for fabricating implantable dmg delivery systems. Examples of natural biopolymers are proteins (e.g. albumin, casein, collagen, and gelatin) and polysaccharides (e.g. cellulose derivatives, chitin derivatives, dextran, hyaluronic acids, inulin, and starch). 

Development of synthetic biodegradable polymers such as polybutylene succinates (PBS) with improved stiffness and thermal properties. 

Synthetic biodegradable polyesters are used mainly as specialty materials for paper coating, fibres, and garbage bags and sacks. They are also showing up in thermoformed packaging as functional adjuncts to lower-cost biodegradable materials. 

Synthetic biodegradable polymers such as aliphatic-aromatic co-polyesters. 

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