Abstract
Poly(ester amide)s are an emerging group of biodegradable polymers that may cover both commodity and speciality applications. These polymers have ester and amide groups on their chemical structure which are of a degradable character and provide good thermal and mechanical properties. In this sense, the strong hydrogen‑bonding interactions between amide groups may counter some typical weaknesses of aliphatic polyesters like for example poly(e-caprolactone). Poly(ester amide)s can be prepared from different monomers and following different synthetic methodologies which lead to polymers with random, blocky and ordered microstructures. Properties like hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio and biodegradability can easily be tuned. During the last decade a great effort has been made to get functionalized poly(ester amide)s by incorporation of a-amino acids with hydroxyl, carboxyl and amine pendant groups and also by incorporation of carbon-carbon double bonds in both the polymer main chain and the side groups. Specific applications of these materials in the biomedical field are just being developed and are reviewed in this work (e.g., controlled drug delivery systems, hydrogels, tissue engineering and other uses like adhesives and smart materials) together with the main families of functionalized poly(ester amide)s that have been developed to date.
Highlights
Synthetic biodegradable polymers offer an alternative to nondegradable materials used in biomedical applications
Poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) constitute a promising family of biodegradable materials since they combine a degradable character, afforded by hydrolizable ester groups (–COO–) placed in the backbone, with relatively good thermal and mechanical properties given by the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions that can be established between their amide groups (–NHCO–)
Polyesters derived from highly functionalized carbohydrates can be effectively synthesized by using lipases such as Novozyme 435, a lipase B from Candida antarctica immobilized on a resin [73,74,75]
Summary
Synthetic biodegradable polymers offer an alternative to nondegradable materials used in biomedical applications. Polyesters constitute nowadays the main family of synthetic biodegradable polymers used as commodity materials and even in the biomedical field. Polyesters functionalized with acid groups were prepared by reacting hydroxyl terminated oligo( -caprolactone)s with anhydrides like succinic, maleic and glutaric anhydrides [4]. This acid functionality could be enhanced by conversion to an acid chloride or an anhydride functionality by reaction with thionyl chloride or acetic anhydride, respectively. Poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) constitute a promising family of biodegradable materials since they combine a degradable character, afforded by hydrolizable ester groups (–COO–) placed in the backbone, with relatively good thermal and mechanical properties given by the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions that can be established between their amide groups (–NHCO–).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
