The crystallization behavior of biodegradable polymer in thin film

Abstract

Biodegradable semicrystalline polymers have attracted great interest in fundamental research as well as in technology. Biodegradability, biocompatibility with organisms, and some other specific characteristics are the most essential properties for this kind of material. How those properties vary in actual application, like their biodegradation rate and the degree of compatibility with corresponding cells or tissues, depends significantly on its crystalline structure. Considering biodegradable polymers are frequently employed in the form of thin film, crystallization of biodegradable polymers in thin film has attracted considerable attention during the past decades. The purpose of this feature article is to provide context as to how the crystallization of thin biodegradable polymer films can be controlled. The crystallization of polymer thin film on two kinds of substrates is summarized: (1) Crystallization on substrate without unique interaction and (2) crystallization on substrate with favored crystallographic interaction. We hope that this article will afford useful information for thin biodegradable polymer processing in different application fields.