Overview of Synthetic and Modified Natural Bioactive Polymers

Abstract

The area of applied bioactive polymeric systems includes such diverse entities as controlled release systems (erodable systems, diffusion controlled systems, mechanical systems and microcapsules), and biologically active polymers, such as natural polymers, synthetic polypeptides, pseudo-enzymes, pseudo-nucleic acids and polymeric drugs. The area can also include immobilized bioactive materials, such as immobilized enzymes, antibodies and other bioactive agents and the area of artificial cells. This Chapter reviews the general field of biologically active synthetic and modified natural macro-molecules with an emphasis on their common characteristics, problems and applications. The areas reviewed include both medical and non-medical applications for both controlled release systems and polymers that exhibit direct biological activity.