How are biodegradable polymers used in drug delivery?
Since then, the use of degradable polymers in drug delivery applications has become prominent due to their biocompatibility and degradability properties, as they can break down inside the body to produce nontoxic natural byproducts such as water and carbon dioxide, and are thereby easily eliminated.
Which polymer is used for controlled drug delivery?
Among the synthetic and biodegradable polymers, aliphatic polyesters such as poly (glycolic acid), poly (lactic acid), poly (caprolactone) and polydioxanone, are most commonly used and applied to drug delivery systems.
How are biodegradable polymers used in medicine?
Biodegradable polymers have been used for more than 50 years with diverse applications such as surgical sutures, wound dressings, tissue regeneration, enzyme immobilization, controlled drug delivery and gene delivery, tissue engineering scaffold, cryopreservation, nanotechnology, medical implants and devices.
What polymers are biodegradable?
Natural biodegradable polymers are called biopolymers. Polysaccharides, as starch and cellulose, represent the most characteristic family of these natural polymers. Other natural polymers as proteins can be used to produce biodegradable materials. These are the two main renewable sources of biopolymers.
Why is a polymer biodegradable?
Biodegradable polymers are a special class of polymer that breaks down after its intended purpose by bacterial decomposition process to result in natural byproducts such as gases (CO2, N2), water, biomass, and inorganic salts.
What is control drug delivery?
A controlled drug delivery system is aimed at releasing the correct dose of a therapeutic directly in the desired zone and during the required period of time. This allows maximizing the efficacy of the therapeutic and minimizing the possible side effects.
Why are polymers used for drugs?
Polymers are being used extensively in drug delivery due to their surface and bulk properties. They are being used in drug formulations and in drug delivery devices. These drug delivery devices may be in the form of implants for controlled drug delivery.
Why do we use biodegradable polymers?
In addition to medicine, biodegradable polymers are often used to reduce the volume of waste in packaging materials. There is also significant effort to replace materials derived from petrochemicals with those that can be made from biodegradable components.
How are polymers used in medicine?
Polymeric biomaterials have been used in the construction of synthetic skin substitutes and scaffolds for skin tissue engineering. Polymers are also used in formulations for dermal and transdermal drug delivery carriers.
What are biodegradable polymers and different types?
Biodegradable polymers represent a growing field. A vast number of biodegradable polymers (eg, cellulose, chitin, starch, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactide, Poly(ε-caprolactone), collagen, and other polypeptides) have been synthesized or are formed in natural environment during the growth cycles of organisms.
What are characteristics of biodegradable polymers?
Polymers, specifically biodegradable polymers, have extremely strong carbon backbones that are difficult to break, such that degradation often starts from the end-groups. Since the degradation begins at the end, a high surface area is common as it allows easy access for either the chemical, light, or organism.
Where do we use biodegradable polymers?
Food packaging and bags are the major end uses for biodegradable polymers. Within the food packaging category, the largest application is shopping bags; other applications include produce bags and food service ware—cold cups, drinking straws, utensils, and clamshell containers.