Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers

Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers is a source manual for synthetic procedures, properties and applications of bioerodible polymers. The authors profile polyactides, collagen and gelatin, as well as the genetically-engineered and elastin-based polymers now emerging. They first addresses synthetic absorbable polymers, then natural, semi-synthetic and biosynthetic polymers. The last section details the surface characterization of degradable polymers, the modeling of biodegradation and non-medical polymers. This book is ideal for researchers, chemists, pharmacists and physicians who deal with biopolymers, drug delivery and targeting, bioengineering and implantable devices.

Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers, the seventh volume in the Drug Delivery and Targeting book series, provides a source manual for synthetic procedures, properties and applications of bioerodible polymers. The authors describe widely available materials such as polyactides, collagen and gelatin, as well as polymers of emerging importance, such as the genetically-engineered and elastin-based polymers which are either proprietary or in early stages of development. Section I addresses synthetic absorbable polymers, and Section 2 profiles natural, semi-synthetic and biosynthetic polymers. Section 3 discusses the surface characterization of degradable polymers, the modeling of biodegradation and non-medical polymers. This book is ideal for researchers from academia and industry as well as chemists, pharmacists and physicians who deal with biopolymers, drug delivery and targeting, bioengineering and implantable devices.