Degradable Polymeric Bio(nano)materials and Their Biomedical Applications: A Comprehensive Overview and Recent Updates

Abstract

Degradable polymers (both biomacromolecules and several synthetic polymers) for biomedical applications have been promising very much in the recent past due to their low cost, biocompatibility, flexibility, and minimal side effects. Here, we present an overview with updated information on natural and synthetic degradable polymers where a brief account on different polysaccharides, proteins, and synthetic polymers viz. polyesters/polyamino acids/polyanhydrides/polyphosphazenes/polyurethanes relevant to biomedical applications has been provided. The various approaches for the transformation of these polymers by physical/chemical means viz. cross-linking, as polyblends, nanocomposites/hybrid composites, interpenetrating complexes, interpolymer/polyion complexes, functionalization, polymer conjugates, and block and graft copolymers, are described. The degradation mechanism, drug loading profiles, and toxicological aspects of polymeric nanoparticles formed are also defined. Biomedical applications of these degradable polymer-based biomaterials in and as wound dressing/healing, biosensors, drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, etc., are highlighted. In addition, the use of such nano systems to solve current drug delivery problems is briefly reviewed.

Keywords: biomedical applications; chemical modification; degradable polymers; polymeric nanoparticles.

Figure 1

Degradable polymers of biomedical interest with a few well-known examples.

Figure 2

Medical application of biodegradable polymers.

Figure 3

Synthetic degradable polymers of biomedical interest.

Figure 4

Study design and potential biomedical application of the PHBV films with incorporated prodigiosin (PG).

Figure 5

Preparation techniques specific for preparation of hydrogels starting from biopolymers.

Figure 6

Schematics of the formation of (a) full interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) and (b) semi-IPN structures [311].

Figure 7

Schematic representation of functionalized NPs using different approaches.

Figure 8

Preparation techniques specific for synthetic monomers and polymers.

Figure 9

Schematic representation of the possible mechanisms of drug release from a polymer matrix.

Figure 10

Degradable polymer nanoparticles of biomedical interest.

Figure 11

Types of specific ligands Redrawn from reference [468].