Lesther S.
Bulaquiña
ChE 2234 Fundamentals of Material Science and Engineering
A Critic Paper on Biodegradable polymers for electrospinning:
Towards biomedical applications
Over the past couple of decades, people
have experienced complications in their lives.
May it be physical, mental, emotional, or even
the holistic aspect of one’s self. These
complications may lead to more mishaps and
could also affect others if given so. That’s why
people are consistently discovering all sorts of
resolutions. In fact, the medicinal industry, in
particular, has made progress in answering
problems that affect people’s health and well-
being.
Medical treatments of all kinds were
discovered and developed for the likelihood of
people. Several applications have been
integrated, including biomedical applications
which makes use of the so-called biomaterial.
Biomaterials are natural substances that are
engineered in order to interact with biological
systems that would most likely help in medical
treatment [2]. These biomaterials have also
become an important component in the modern
age of enhancing human health and quality of
life [additional 4].
With this, polymers were then utilized
for reasons that it is organic in nature and offers
a versatility unrivaled by both metals and
ceramics [additional 4]. Also, another factor is
its flexibility towards chemistry results to a wide
spectrum of mechanical, chemical and physical
properties which paved way to large scales of
research and development. [2, additional 4].
Considering that most, if not all,
polymers are made up of non-renewable
resources, the employment of biodegradable
polymers arose. Further development was also
established through different processes and
concepts.
Electrospinning is one of which that is
known to be the simplest technique and can
generate continuous ultrafine fibers from a
variety of materials like solution or molten
polymers [4, additional 2]. It has also received
March 11, 2020
Polymers (Final Report)
significant attention mainly in biomedical
applications due to it being ideal for nano-
technology [1].
The basic setup for the theory of
electrospinning is composed of three main
elements: (1) a capillary tube which serves as
the reservoir for the given polymer solution, (2)
a high voltage power supply for functionality,
and (3) a metallic collector. Also, like any other
process, there are various factors that may affect
electrospinning. The parameters that mainly
affect the entirety of the process is broken down
into two namely the substrate-related and
apparatus-related [1].
Increasing environmental awareness of
limited fossil fuel reserves has prompt the search
for new polymeric materials and production
processes derived from clean, renewable
feedstocks that mitigate the harmful effects of
their use on the environment [3]. Such material
is then undergone through a method for
producing nanoscale polymer fibers wherein
these nanofibers are ideal for mimicking the
biological environment as they are on the same
scale as organic molecules [1].
Indeed, biodegradable polymers has
done its job in reducing the possibility of
contamination of the environment due to its
significant advantage of being able to be broken
down and removed after they have served their
function [2]. Furthermore, it brought more
progress on the biomedical applications which
generally proposed a more functional and
practical course of action in addressing the
potential predicament that involves humanity’s
welfare.
References:
[1] Kai, D., Liow, S. S., & Loh, X. J. (2014).
Biodegradable polymers for electrospinning:
Towards biomedical applications. Materials
Science and Engineering: C, 45, 659–670.
doi:10.1016/j.msec.2014.04.051 
[2] Ulery, B. D., Nair, L. S., & Laurencin, C. T.
(2011). Biomedical applications of
biodegradable polymers. Journal of Polymer
Science Part B: Polymer Physics, 49(12), 832–
864. doi:10.1002/polb.22259 
[3] Tschan, M. J.-L., Brulé, E., Haquette, P., &
Thomas, C. M. (2012). Synthesis of
biodegradable polymers from renewable
resources. Polym. Chem., 3(4), 836–
851. doi:10.1039/c2py00452f 
[4] Supaphol, P., Suwantong, O., Sangsanoh, P.,
Srinivasan, S., Jayakumar, R., & Nair, S. V.
(2011). Electrospinning of Biocompatible
Polymers and Their Potentials in Biomedical
Applications. Advances in Polymer Science,
213–239. doi:10.1007/12_2011_143