Open Access

ARTICLE

Polymers from Renewable Resources: Perspectives in Biomedical Applications

Andrea Morelli, Dario Puppi, Federica Chiellini^*

Laboratory of Bioactive Polymeric Materials for Biomedical and Environmental Applications (BIOlab), Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

* Corresponding Author:

Journal of Renewable Materials 2013, 1(2), 83-112. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2012.634106

Received 05 October 2012; Accepted 14 November 2012;

Abstract

Polymers, particularly those susceptible to undergoing biodegradation under physiological environments, can be considered the materials of choice for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and controlled and targeted drug delivery. The development of these relatively new fi elds of biomedical research represents the driving force towards the exploitation of renewable resources for the obtainment of biobased polymeric biomaterials. This perspective article reports on the biomedical applications of three major categories of biobased polymeric materials obtained from renewable resources, namely, polysaccharides, proteins and polyesters of natural origins. Particular emphasis is given to biobased polymers that display only minor modifi cation of their structure, thus maintaining most of their natural connotations. The advantages and major drawbacks related to their use for biomedical purposes are critically discussed.

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Keywords

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