Recent advances in biodegradable polymers – Properties, applications and future prospects

Abstract

Polymers with biodegradable properties are termed as the future “green materials” possessing a shorter lifetime compared to synthetic polymeric materials. Though naturally available biopolymers are the most abundant, synthetic biodegradable polymers have been designed and synthesized to get the required physical and chemical properties finding varied applications in cosmetics, coatings, wound dressings, enzyme immobilization, gene delivery, and tissue engineering scaffolds. Further, structurally-modified biopolymers are more prescribed and suggested for their usage in nanotechnology, augmentation, cryopreservation, prosthetics, medical implants, devices, and sanitation products including surgical sutures. It is important to understand the structural properties of various biodegradable polymers for their applications. In this regard, the present review article describes the classification of bio-degradable polymers as natural (polysaccharides and proteins) and synthetic (esters, amides, ethers, urethanes, or hybrid systems) biodegradable polymers by describing their structural properties suitable to the biomedical applications. The development of new hybrid biodegradable polymers with flexibility and long-term biocompatibility leads to the flow of numerous non-toxic biomaterials appropriate to biomedical fields like orthopedics, long-term implants, regenerative medicine, and controlled drug delivery experiencing vital contributions. The enormous efforts and investigations made by these biodegradable polymers facilitate the significant expansion of the development of new viable products for clinical trials.