Synthetic polymers have many applications in biomedical fields such as bone fracture repair, hip joint replacements, ligaments, tendons, contact lenses, sutures, and burn treatments. Polymers are used where biostability is needed for long-term implants, as biodegradable temporary implants, or as water soluble components of blood substitutes. Common polymers used include PMMA, PGA, PCL, silicone, PUs, nylon and polyacrylates which are chosen based on their mechanical properties, biocompatibility and degradation time frame needed for the application. The variety of polymers and their applications in biomedicine has grown tremendously and is expected to continue expanding to improve medical treatments.

1. BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF POLYMERS
Saneesh V S , Amal Raj R B - MSc. Biopolymer Science
• Bone fractures are
occasionally
repaired with the
use of PU, epoxy
resins and rapid-
curing vinyl resins.
• In hip-joint surgery
with the use
of stainless steel or
polyethylene ball
joints attached to
the femur by means
of a PMMA filler and
binder.
• Teflon fabric
and silicone
rubber have been
used to
make synthetic liga
ments and tendons.
• PMMA is the
principal polymer
used both for
acrylic teeth and for
the base material.
• A number of
polymers, PGA ,
poly(amino acid ester
phosphazenes) &
aliphatic poly-
anhydrides are all of
interest for this
application.
• Synthetic polymers have been investigated for
use in plasma substitutes and as volume
expanders to reduce the amount of whole
blood needed.
• Poly (Vinyl Pyrolidone) was used extensively
as a colloidal plasma substitute for the
treatment of casualties.
• Its disadvantages for this applications are
connected with its poor biodegradability.
• Rigid polymers
such as PMMA have
traditionally been
used for ‘hard’
contact lenses.
• A soft contact lens
is made from a
lightly cross linked,
water-soluble
polymer. They form
soft hydrogels , the
expanded shape of
which is defined at
the point of cross
linking.
• A replacement for
catgut is synthetic
poly(glycolic acid) or
condensation
copolymers of glycolic
acid with lactic acid.
• PGA has a high tensile
strength and is
compatible with
human tissue &
polymer degrades by
hydrolysis to nontoxic
glycolic acid.
• One important area in which the use of synthetic
polymers has generally been cautious and limited ,
that is field of medicine has become one of the
principal challenges facing the polymer scientists
• The types of synthetic polymers needed for
biomedical applications can be grouped roughly
into three categories
1. Polymers that are sufficiently biostable to allow
their long-term use in artificial organs.
2. Polymers that are biodegradable-materials that
will serve a short-term purpose in the body and
decompose to small molecules.
3. Polymers that are water soluble and that form part
of plasma or whole blood substitute solutions or
which function as macromolecular drugs
• Polymers such
as Silicone rubber, PU
rubber, Dacron
polyester, Teflon, PC,
PMMA, PVC etc can be
used.
• PUs are the most
commonly used flexible
biomaterials because it
have excellent flexing
strength.
• Silicone rubber is an
ideal bio- material due to
inert ,flexible & soft.
• Polymers based on the
poly(α-cyanoacrylate)
structure have proved to
be effective to glue
tissues together.
• Synthetic poly(amino
acid) films are used
as synthetic skin to
cover large burns.
Velours of nylon fiber
have also been tested for
this use, as have films of
poly(α-cyanoacrylates).
• The pace of revolutionary discoveries now in
synthetic Polymers applied for biomedicine is
expected to accelerate in the next decade
worldwide.
• A decade ago the application of synthetic
polymers in biomedicine was only a concept
with great potential.
“Today it‘s a reality & tomorrow it will flourish”
• Polymeric Biomaterials – Severian Dumitriu.
• Biomaterials & devices for the ciculatory
system – Gourlay & Richard
• BIOPOLYMERS-New Materials for Sustainable
Films & Coatings – David Plackett
• http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/