BIOMEDICAL POLYMERS
Defination:
Biomedical polymers are macromolecular compounds obtained from
natural origin. Biomedical composites are flexible and are resistant to
chemical attack. These composites have good compatibility with
body. There are a wide variety of biomedical composites available
with different physical and chemical properties.
Example:
[Link](propylene fumarate):
PPF is a linear polyester containing an unsaturated bond in the
fumarate repeating units [35]. The degradation of PPF arises from the
hydrolysis of the ester bonds, which leads to biocompatible
degradation byproducts, fumatic acid and 1,2- propane glycol. The
unsaturated bonds in the PPF backbone allow the further covalent
crosslinking in the presence of a photoinitiator and ultraviolet
irradiation, leading to the formation of biomaterials with obviously
enhanced mechanical properties. The synthesis of PPF commonly
involves a twostep reaction including the formation of a
bis(hydroxypropyl) fumarate diester intermediate from diethyl
fumarate and propylene glycol, followed by the transesterification of
the above intermediate under reduced pressure (< 1 mm Hg) (Scheme
2e).
2. Poly(β-amino esters):
Poly(β-amino esters) (PBAEs) are a type of biodegradable polymers
containing ester bonds and tertiary amino groups in the backbones
[36]. The synthesis of linear PBAEs is typically based on the Michael
additions between primary monoamine or secondary diamines and
diacrylate-conjugated monomers (Scheme 2f). The incorporation of a
multifunctional monomer can result in the formation of a
hyperbranch or cross-linked product. Due to the electrostatic
interactions with various negatively-charged genes/therapeutic
agents and the responsiveness to physiologically relevant pH change
of the tertiary amino groups, PBAEs have been investigated as
carriers for controlled delivery of genes or other therapeutic agents
in the past two decades. This type of polymers usually shows rapid
hydrolytic degradation within 3 days with the generation of
noncytotoxic diols and bis(β-amino acids) [36].
3. Poly(ester amide)s:
Poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) are a class of polymers containing 1014
Chen et al. Sci China Chem June (2022) Vol.65 No.6 both ester and
amide bonds in the backbones [37,38]. This type of polymers has also
attracted considerable interest for biomedical applications due to the
combination of the thermomechanical properties of polyamides with
the biodegradability of polyesters [39]. Based on the different choices
of monomers, PEAs can be synthesized through ROP of morpholino-
2,5-dione derivative intermediates, polycondensation reactions based
on monomers containing diamide (or bis(amino acids)) and diester
moieties (Scheme 2g) [39,40], as well as passerini reactions [41].
Properties\criteria of biomedical polymer
[Link]-toxic (biosafe):
They should be non-pyrogenic, Non-hemolytic, Chronically non-
inflammative, Non-allergenic, Non-carcinogenic, Non-teratogenic,
etc..
[Link]:
They should be effective functionally, should have good
performance, durability,etc.
3. Sterilizable:
They can be sterilizable by using Ethylene oxide, γ-Irradiation,
Electron beams,Autoclave, Dry heating, etc
4. Biocompatible:
The most important one, for the use of any material in human body
they should be biocompatible interfacially, mechanically, and
Biologically
[Link]
[Link] to biochemical attack;
[Link] biocompatibility;
[Link] weight;
[Link] in a wide variety of compositions with adequate physical
and mechanical properties can be easily manufactured into products
with the desired shape.