1 - Natural and synthetic biocompatible and biodegradable polymers

Abstract

Biopolymers, biodegradable polymers, and biocompatible polymers are receiving immense limelight in today’s industry because of their ability to reduce the toxic and nondegradable waste flow. The demands of these polymers are increasing exponentially because their mechanical, physical, and other properties can be feasibly modified. Properties and applications of few most commercially used natural polymers such as collagen, gelatin, gluten, and polysaccharides such as chitin, chitosan, cellulose, and starch have been focused in this chapter. Furthermore, the properties and applications of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers such as polyglycolide, poly(butylene succinate), polyesteramides, polydioxanone, polyanhydride, polylactic acid, polyurethanes, polycarbonate etc. are also listed out. A focus on the biosynthetic pathways of biopolymers, their methods of extraction, and various approaches (chemical, enzymatic, and mechanical) involved in the production of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers is enumerated. Knowing the fundamentals of the aforementioned polymers is very vital to channel these valuable assets to rule tomorrow’s world of green material industry.