INTRODUCTION

Biodegradable polymers have been broadly utilized as a part of biomedical

applications in light of their known biocompatibility and biodegradability.
Degradable polymeric biomaterials are favored possibility for creating restorative
gadgets, for example, interim prostheses, three dimensional permeable structures
as platforms for tissue designing and as controlled/managed discharge drug
conveyance vehicles. Biodegradable polymers can be characterized as polymers
that are degradable in vivo, either enzymatic associate or nonenzymatically, to
deliver biocompatible or nontoxic by-items. These polymers can be metabolized
and discharged by means of typical physiological pathways. They are characterized
into three gatherings, in particular common, semi manufactured, and engineered,
taking into account their sources. Case of regularly utilized characteristic
biodegradable polymers are gelatin, alginate, Biodegradable polymers are a
recently rising field [1]. Biodegradable polymers hold their properties for a
restricted timeframe in vivo and after that slowly debase into materials that can get
to be dissolvable or metabolized and discharged from the body. With a specific end
goal to be utilized for as a part of vivo applications the polymers utilized for such
frameworks must have ideal properties for biocompatibility, process ability,
sterilization capability, and shelf life. For each application and drug, one must
evaluate the properties of the system (drug and particle) and determine whether or
not it is the optimal formulation for a given drug delivery application

• The term "polymer" derives from the ancient Greek word polus, meaning
"many, much" and meros, meaning "parts", and refers to a molecule whose
structure is composed of multiple repeating units.
• The term was coined in 1833 by Jons Jacob Berzelius.
 • A polymer is a large molecule (macromolecules) composed of many
repeated subunits, known as monomers. monomers can be linked together in
various ways to give linear, branched and cross linked polymers etc…….

characterization:

 Inert Permeability
 Biodegradability
 Bio- compatilibility
 Tensile strength
 Should be versatile and possess a wide range of mechanical, physical,
chemical properties.
• Should be non-toxic and have good mechanical strength and should be
easily administered.
• Should be inexpensive
• Should be easy to fabricate.
• Should be inert to host tissue and compatible with environment.

DEFINITION

• Biodegradable polymers are defined as polymers comprised of monomers

linked to one another through functional groups and have unstable links in
the backbone.
• They are broken down into biologically acceptable molecules that are
metabolized and removed from the body via normal metabolic pathways.
• Based on biodegradability polymers are classified as:

1. Biodegradable polymers

eg: collagen, poly glycolic acid etc.,

2. Non biodegradable polymers

eg: poly vinyl chloride, polyethylene etc.,

classification of biodegradable polymers

Polymer Degradation

• Polymer degradation is a change in the properties – tensile strength, colour,

shape, etc of a polymer or polymer based product under the influence of one
or more environmental factors such as heat, light or chemicals.
• The term 'biodegradation' is limited to the description of chemical processes
(chemical changes that alter either the molecular weight or solubility of the
polymer)
• Bioerosion' may be restricted to refer to physical processes that result in
weight loss of a polymer device.
• The bioerosion of polymers is basically of two types :

1) Bulk erosion

2) Surface erosion
Types of bioerosion
Classification of biodegradable polymers based on the source

1) Synthetic biodegradable polymers:

eg: Aliphatic poly(esters)

Polyanhydrides
 Polyphosphazenes
polyaminoacids
Poly orthoesters etc.,

2) Natural biodegradable polymers:

eg: Albumin

Collagen

Dextran

Gelatin

Pectin, starch etc.,

Synthetic biodegradable polymers

Aliphatic poly(esters)
• These are prepared by ring opening and polymerization of cyclic ester.
• Aliphatic polyesters include:
a. POLY (GLYCOLIC ACID).
b. POLY (LACTIC ACID)
c. POLY (CAPROLACTONE)

1. polyglycolic acid

• Polyglycolide or Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is a biodegradable, thermoplastic

polymer and the simplest linear, aliphatic polyester.
• It is a tough fibre-forming polymer.
• Due to its hydrolytic instability its use has been limited.
• It has a glass transition elevated degree of temperature between 35-40 C.,
crystallinity, around 45.
 • Its melting point is in the range 55%, thus resulting in of 225-230 C.
insolubility in water.
• polyglycolide is degraded by hydrolysis, and broken down by certain
enzymes.

Applications

• Used to deliver drugs in the form of microspheres, implants etc.,

• Examples of drugs delivered include steroid hormones, antibiotics, anti
cancer agents etc.,

2. polylactic acid

• Polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester

derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch, tapioca products
(roots, chips or starch) or sugarcane.
• It can biodegrade under certain conditions, such as the presence of oxygen,
and is difficult to recycle.
• Highly crystalline, high melting point, low solubility.
• Bacterial fermentation is used to produce lactic acid from corn starch or cane
sugar.

Applications

• PLA is used in the preparation of sutures or orthopaedic devices.

3. Polycaprolactone

• Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable polyester.

• It has a low melting point of around 60 C.
• It has a glass transition temperature of about −60 C.
• slower degradation rate than PLA.
 • It remains active as long as a year for drug delivery.

Applications:

Drug delivery applications of PCL includes:

- Cyclosporin in the form of nanoparticles

- Ciprofloxacin in the form of dental implants

4.poly anhydrides

• Highly reactive and hydrolytically unstable.

• Degrade by surface degradation without the need for catalysts.
• Aliphatic (CH2 in backbone and side chains) polyanhydrides degrade within
days.
• Aromatic (benzene ring as the side chain) polyanhydrides degrade over
several years.
• Excellent biocompatibility.
• Drug loaded devices prepared by compression molding or
microencapsulation.
• Suitable for short term drug delivery.
• Used for vaccination and localized tumor therapy.

5. polyphosphazenes

• Its hydrolytic stability/instability is determined by change in side group

attached to macromolecular backbone.
• Used in the construction of soft tissue prosthesis, tissue like coatings, as
material for blood vessel prosthesis.
• Used for immobilization of antigen or enzyme.
• Use for drug delivery under investigation
 • Based on side chain these are of 3 types:
• Hydrophobic phosphazenes
• Hydrophilic phosphazenes
• Amphiphilic phosphazenes

6. POLYAMINOACIDS

• Aminoacid side-chains offer sites for drug attachment.

• Low-level systemic toxicity owing to their similarity to naturally occurring
amino acids.
• Investigated as suture materials.
• Artificial skin subtitutes .
• Limited applicability as biomaterials due to limited solubility and
processibility . – Drug delivery (difficult to predict drug release rate due to
swelling)
• Polymers containing more than three or more amino acids may trigger
antigenic response.
• Tyrosine derived polycarbonates developed as high-strength degradable
orthopaedic implants.

Natural biodegradable polymers

Natural polymers are an attractive class of biodegradable polymers as they are:

• Derived from natural sources

• Easily available – Relatively cheap

eg: Albumin

Collagen

Dextran
 Gelatin Pectin, starch etc.,

1.Collagen

• Collagen is the most widely found protein in mammals and is the major
provider of strength to tissue.
• The number of biomedical applications in which collagen have been utilized
is too high; it not only has been explored for use in various types of surgery,
cosmetics, and drug delivery, but also in bioprosthetic implants and tissue
engineering of multiple organs as well.
• It is used as sutures ,Dressings, etc.

Disadvantages

• Poor dimensional stability. Variability in drug release kinetics.

• Poor mechanical strength.

Applications:

• Majorly used in ocular drug delivery system

2.Albumin

• It is a major plasma protein component.

• It accounts for more than 55% of total protein in human plasma.
• It is used to design particulate drug delivery systems.

Applications:

• Albumin micro-spheres are used to deliver drugs like Insulin,

Sulphadiazene, 5-fluorouracil, Prednisolone etc.
• It is mainly used in chemotherapy, to achieve high local drug concentration
for relatively longer time.
3.Dextran

• Dextran is a complex branched polysaccharide made of many glucose

molecules joined into chains of varying lengths.
• It consists of α-D-1,6-glucose-linked glucan with side-chains linked to the
backbone of Polymer. Its Mol.wt ranges from 1000 to 2,00,000 Daltons.

Applications:

• Used for colonic delivery of drug in the form of gels.

4.Gelatin

• Gelatin is a mixture of peptides and proteins produced by partial hydrolysis

of collagen, extracted from the boiled bones, connective tissues, organs and
some intestines of animals. Gelatin is an irreversible hydrolyzed form of
collagen, Physicochemical properties depends on the source of collagen,
extraction method and thermal degradation.

Applications:

• Employed as coating material.

• Gelatin micropellets are used for oral controlled delivery of drugs.

Synthetic polymers have been widely used in making various medical

devices, such as disposable supplies, implants, drug delivery systems and
tissue engineering scaffolds. The advantages of using polymers, as
biomaterials, are their manufacturability. Polymers are easy to fabricate into
various sizes and shapes compared to metals and ceramics. They are also
light in weight and with a wide range of mechanical properties for different
applications.
1- Polyethylene: There are three type of polyethylene: linear high density
polyethylene (HDPE), branched low density polyethylene (LDPE) and
ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). HDPE and
UHMWPE are frequently used as biomaterials.
3- Polyester: Polyester is a family of polymers which have ester linkage
connecting the polymers .
Among the polyester family, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is the
world leading synthetic fibers and films. The typical synthetic reaction of
PET uses dimethyl terephathalate and ethylene glycol .

The synthesis of PET is a two-step process. First, dimethyl terephthalate

is heated with ethylene glycol to obtain low molecular weight oligomers of
PET. Then the mixture is heated to a higher temperature of 250°C under
vacuum to further promote the condensation reaction. The byproduct
methanol is removed using vacuum and heat. PET is considered to be
biocompatible. It has very good mechanical properties. Therefore, PET
fibers and the structures made from fibers, such as woven, knitted, felted and
braided structures, are used as sutures, internal patches, pledgets,
ligamentous prosthesis, artificial blood vessels, heart valve sewing cuffs, etc.

4- Polycarbonate: Polycarbonate family polymers have carbonate linkages

in their polymer chains . Polycarbonate can be synthesized by the reaction of
phosgene with bisphenol A [2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane]. The
obtained PC is a tough and transparent plastic commercially available .
Polycarbonate is used to make components for oxygenator for open heart
surgery, venous reservoir, and arterial filter due to its sterilizability, ease of
processing, biocompatibility, and clarity.

5- Poly amides: Polyamide polymers (nylon) have amide linkages in their

polymer chains .The first polyamide synthesized was Nylon-66. It was
synthesized through the polycondensation of hexamethylenediamine and
adipic acid . Nylon has been used as surgical sutures.

7- Polysulfones: Polysulfons are a family of polymers which have linkages

in their backbones .Polysulfones have excellent mechanical properties and
chemical resistance. One of the important polysulfones is poly( aryl
sulfones) .

Some of the characteristics of polysulfones are: (1) Heat resistant: Heat

deflection temperature ( HDT) 174° (2) Excellent hydrolytic stability to hot
water and steam sterilization; C; (3) Excellent chemical resistance to
inorganic acids & bases; (4) Food, water and medical contact compliance.
They are used as membranes for hemodialysis. Polysulfones have been used
as orthopeadic biomaterials due to their excellent mechanical properties
( tensile modulus – 2. 4 GPa). To improve their bone-bonding
properties, polysulfones were used to make composites with bioactive glass.

8- Poly( ether ether ketone): The structure of Poly( ether ether ketone)
(PEEK) : PEEK is a crystalline polymer with a glass transition temperature
of 145°C The most common form of PEEK is the one shown, derived from
Bisphenol A, although limitless variations are possible, and a few are
commercially produced. PEEK is a remarkable material, highly crystalline,
 thermally stable, resistant to many chemicals, and very tough. It can be melt-
processed at very high temperatures ( >300°C), and is useful for special
applications like pipes in oil refineries and chemical plants, and parts for
scientific instruments, aerospace and biomedical

Factors affecting biodegradation of polymers

Chemical Structure and Chemical Composition

 Distribution of Repeat Units in Multimers

 Molecular Weight
 Polydispersity
 Presence of Low Mw Compounds (monomer, oligomers, solvents,
plasticizers, etc)
 Presence of Ionic Groups
 Presence of Chain Defects
 Presence of Unexpected Units
 Configurational Structure
 Morphology (crystallinity, presence of microstructure, orientation and
residue stress)
 Processing methods & Conditions
 Method of Sterilization
 Annealing
 Storage History
 Site of Implantation
 Absorbed Compounds
 Physiochemical Factors (shape, size)
 Mechanism of Hydrolysis (enzymes vs water)
Advantages of biodegradable polymers

• Localized delivery of drug

• Sustained delivery of drug
• Stabilization of drug
• Decrease in dosing frequency
• Reduce side effects
• Improved patient compliance
• Controllable degradation rate

Applications of biodegradable polymers

• Polymer system for gene therapy.

• Biodegradable polymer for ocular, tissue engineering, vascular, orthopedic,
skin adhesive & surgical glues.
• Bio degradable drug system for therapeutic agents such as anti tumor,
antipsychotic agent, anti-inflammatory agent.
• Polymeric materials are used in and on soil to improve aeration, and promote
plant growth and health.
• Many biomaterials, especially heart valve replacements and blood vessels,
are made of polymers like Dacron, Teflon and polyurethane.

CONCLUSION

• Numerous synthetic biodegradable polymers are available and still being

developed for sustained and targeted drug delivery applications.
• Biodegradable polymers have proven their potential for the development of
new, advanced and efficient DDS and capable of delivering a wide range of
bioactive materials.
• However, only few have entered the market since many drugs faces the
problem of sensitivity to heat, shear forces and interaction between
polymers.
• These problems can be overcome by fully understanding the degradation
mechanism to adjust the release profile.