Biodegradable polymers

1. Biodegradable Polymers
Guided By : Miss snehal pardeshi
Presented By : Darshana bafna

2. BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS
• 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.,
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3. 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
polymers)
• The process carried out by Biological system ( micro organism ) where in
polymer chain Cleaved by enzymatic activity .
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5. Classification of biodegradable polymers

6. Classification of biodegradable polymers based on the source
1) Synthetic biodegradable polymers:
eg: Aliphatic poly(esters)
Polyanhydrides
Polyphosphazenes
polyaminoacids
Poly orthoesters
2) Natural biodegradable polymers:
eg: Albumin
Collagen
Dextran
Gelatin
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7. Synthetic biodegradable polymers
1) 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)
POLY (GLYCOLIC ACID) ---(--O—C-CH2---)n
--(--O---C—CH---)
POLY (LACTIC ACID)
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8. 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.,
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9. FACTORS AFFECTING BIODEGRADATION
OF POLYMERS
 Morphological factors
• Shape & size
• Variation of diffusion coefficient and mechanical stresses
 Chemical factors
• Chemical structure & composition
• Presence of ionic group and configuration structure
• Molecular weight and presence of low molecular weight compounds
 Physical factors
• Processing condition
• Sterilization process

10. 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

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