10 - Polymeric Biomaterials

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief overview of several medical applications that polymers have made seminal contributions to over the years. Currently, with the rapid growth in modern biology and the collaborative effort, cross-disciplines such as materials science, engineering, chemistry, biology, and medicine, polymeric biomaterials are now being fashioned into bioactive, biomimetic, and most importantly, with excellent biocompatibility. Examples of this newer generation of polymeric biomaterials are also included in this chapter. Applications of biomaterials in ophthalmology include contact lenses, intraocular lenses (IOLs), artificial orbital walls, artificial corneas, artificial lacrimal ducts, glaucoma filtration implants, viscoelastic replacements, drug delivery systems, scleral buckles, retinal tacks and adhesives, and ocular endotamponades. The first generation of polymeric contact lenses was made of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a polymer commercially known as Plexiglas and is a classical example of hard or rigid lens material. PMMA can be prepared using bulk free-radical polymerization and lathed into lens shape. IOLs are commonly used to replace natural lenses and provide clear optical imaging for patients undergoing cataract surgery. The most widely used foldable IOL, AcrySof, is fabricated from a copolymer of phenylethyl acrylate and phenylethyl methacrylate with a crosslinking reagent and a UV-absorbing chromophore. Polymers have made significant impact on biomedical research and medical practice, and will continue to be the major workforce for biomaterials in the twenty-first century.