Contents Preface XV List of Contributors XVII 1 Polyesters 1 Adam L. Sisson, Michael Schroeter, and Andreas Lendlein 1.1 Historical Background 1 1.1.1 Biomedical Applications 1 1.1.2 Poly(Hydroxycarboxylic Acids) 2 1.2 Preparative Methods 3 1.2.1 Poly(Hydroxycarboxylic Acid) Syntheses 3 1.2.2 Metal-Free Synthetic Processes 6 1.2.3 Polyanhydrides 6 1.3 Physical Properties 7 1.3.1 Crystallinity and Thermal Transition Temperatures 7 1.3.2 Improving Elasticity by Preparing Multiblock Copolymers 9 1.3.3 Covalently Crosslinked Polyesters 11 1.3.4 Networks with Shape-Memory Capability 11 1.4 Degradation Mechanisms 12 1.4.1 Determining Erosion Kinetics 12 1.4.2 Factors Affecting Erosion Kinetics 13 1.5 Beyond Classical Poly(Hydroxycarboxylic Acids) 14 1.5.1 Alternate Systems 14 1.5.2 Complex Architectures 15 1.5.3 Nanofabrication 16 References 17 2 Biotechnologically Produced Biodegradable Polyesters 23 Jaciane Lutz Ienczak and Gláucia Maria Falcão de Aragão 2.1 Introduction 23 2.2 History 24 2.3 Polyhydroxyalkanoates – Granules Morphology 26 2.4 Biosynthesis and Biodegradability of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) and Other Polyhydroxyalkanoates 29 2.4.1 Polyhydroxyalkanoates Biosynthesis on Microorganisms 29 2.4.2 Plants as Polyhydroxyalkanoates Producers 32 2.4.3 Microbial Degradation of Polyhydroxyalkanoates 33 2.5 Extraction and Recovery 34 2.6 Physical, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Polyhydroxyalkanoates 36 2.7 Future Directions 37 References 38 3 Polyanhydrides 45 Avi Domb, Jay Prakash Jain, and Neeraj Kumar 3.1 Introduction 45 3.2 Types of Polyanhydride 46 3.2.1 Aromatic Polyanhydrides 46 3.2.2 Aliphatic–Aromatic Polyanhydrides 49 3.2.3 Poly(Ester-Anhydrides) and Poly(Ether-Anhydrides) 49 3.2.4 Fatty Acid-Based Polyanhydrides 49 3.2.5 RA-Based Polyanhydrides 49 3.2.6 Amino Acid-Based Polyanhydrides 51 3.2.7 Photopolymerizable Polyanhydrides 52 3.2.8 Salicylate-Based Polyanhydrides 53 3.2.9 Succinic Acid-Based Polyanhydrides 54 3.2.10 Blends 55 3.3 Synthesis 55 3.4 Properties 58 3.5 In Vitro Degradation and Erosion of Polyanhydrides 63 3.6 In Vivo Degradation and Elimination of Polyanhydrides 64 3.7 Toxicological Aspects of Polyanhydrides 65 3.8 Fabrication of Delivery Systems 67 3.9 Production and World Market 68 3.10 Biomedical Applications 68 References 71 4 Poly(Ortho Esters) 77 Jorge Heller4.1 Introduction 77 4.2 POE II 79 4.2.1 Polymer Synthesis 79 4.2.1.1 Rearrangement Procedure Using an Ru(PPh3)3Cl2 Na2CO3 Catalyst 80 4.2.1.2 Alternate Diketene Acetals 80 4.2.1.3 Typical Polymer Synthesis Procedure 80 4.2.2 Drug Delivery 81 4.2.2.1 Development of Ivermectin Containing Strands to Prevent Heartworm Infestation in Dogs 81 4.2.2.2 Experimental Procedure 81 4.2.2.3 Results 82 4.3 POE IV 82 4.3.1 Polymer Synthesis 82 4.3.1.1 Typical Polymer Synthesis Procedure 82 4.3.1.2 Latent Acid 83 4.3.1.3 Experimental Procedure 83 4.3.2 Mechanical Properties 83 4.4 Solid Polymers 86 4.4.1 Fabrication 86 4.4.2 Polymer Storage Stability 87 4.4.3 Polymer Sterilization 87 4.4.4 Polymer Hydrolysis 88 4.4.5 Drug Delivery 91 4.4.5.1 Release of Bovine Serum Albumin from Extruded Strands 91 4.4.5.2 Experimental Procedure 93 4.4.6 Delivery of DNA Plasmid 93 4.4.6.1 DNA Plasmid Stability 94 4.4.6.2 Microencapsulation Procedure 94 4.4.7 Delivery of 5-Fluorouracil 95 4.5 Gel-Like Materials 96 4.5.1 Polymer Molecular Weight Control 96 4.5.2 Polymer Stability 98 4.5.3 Drug Delivery 99 4.5.3.1 Development of APF 112 Mepivacaine Delivery System 99 4.5.3.2 Formulation Used 99 4.5.4 Preclinical Toxicology 100 4.5.4.1 Polymer Hydrolysate 100 4.5.4.2 Wound Instillation 100 4.5.5 Phase II Clinical Trial 100 4.5.6 Development of APF 530 Granisetron Delivery System 100 4.5.6.1 Preclinical Toxicology 100 4.5.6.2 Rat Study 101 4.5.6.3 Dog Study 101 4.5.6.4 Phase II and Phase III Clinical Trials 101 4.6 Polymers Based on an Alternate Diketene Acetal 102 4.7 Conclusions 104 References 104 5 Biodegradable Polymers Composed of Naturally Occurring α-Amino Acids 107 Ramaz Katsarava and Zaza Gomurashvili 5.1 Introduction 107 5.2 Amino Acid-Based Biodegradable Polymers (AABBPs) 109 5.2.1 Monomers for Synthesizing AABBPs 109 5.2.1.1 Key Bis-Nucleophilic Monomers 109 5.2.1.2 Bis-Electrophiles 111 5.2.2 AABBPs’ Synthesis Methods 111 5.2.3 AABBPs: Synthesis, Structure, and Transformations 115 5.2.3.1 Poly(ester amide)s 115 5.2.3.2 Poly(ester urethane)s 119 5.2.3.3 Poly(ester urea)s 119 5.2.3.4 Transformation of AABBPs 119 5.2.4 Properties of AABBPs 121 5.2.4.1 MWs, Thermal, Mechanical Properties, and Solubility 121 5.2.4.2 Biodegradation of AABBPs 121 5.2.4.3 Biocompatibility of AABBPs 123 5.2.5 Some Applications of AABBPs 124 5.2.6 AABBPs versus Biodegradable Polyesters 125 5.3 Conclusion and Perspectives 126 References 127 6 Biodegradable Polyurethanes and Poly(ester amide)s 133 Alfonso Rodríguez-Galán, Lourdes Franco, and Jordi Puiggalí Abbreviations 133 6.1 Chemistry and Properties of Biodegradable Polyurethanes 134 6.2 Biodegradation Mechanisms of Polyurethanes 140 6.3 Applications of Biodegradable Polyurethanes 142 6.3.1 Scaffolds 142 6.3.1.1 Cardiovascular Applications 143 6.3.1.2 Musculoskeletal Applications 143 6.3.1.3 Neurological Applications 144 6.3.2 Drug Delivery Systems 144 6.3.3 Other Biomedical Applications 145 6.4 New Polymerization Trends to Obtain Degradable Polyurethanes 145 6.4.1 Polyurethanes Obtained without Using Diisocynates 145 6.4.2 Enzymatic Synthesis of Polyurethanes 146 6.4.3 Polyurethanes from Vegetable Oils 147 6.4.4 Polyurethanes from Sugars 147 6.5 Aliphatic Poly(ester amide)s: A Family of Biodegradable Thermoplastics with Interest as New Biomaterials 149 Acknowledgments 152 References 152 7 Carbohydrates 155 Gerald Dräger, Andreas Krause, Lena Möller, and Severian Dumitriu 7.1 Introduction 155 7.2 Alginate 156 7.3 Carrageenan 160 7.4 Cellulose and Its Derivatives 162 7.5 Microbial Cellulose 164 7.6 Chitin and Chitosan 165 7.7 Dextran 169 7.8 Gellan 171 7.9 Guar Gum 174 7.10 Hyaluronic Acid (Hyaluronan) 176 7.11 Pullulan 180 7.12 Scleroglucan 182 7.13 Xanthan 184 7.14 Summary 186 Acknowledgments 187 In Memoriam 187 References 187 8 Biodegradable Shape-Memory Polymers 195 Marc Behl, Jörg Zotzmann, Michael Schroeter, and Andreas Lendlein 8.1 Introduction 195 8.2 General Concept of SMPs 197 8.3 Classes of Degradable SMPs 201 8.3.1 Covalent Networks with Crystallizable Switching Domains, Ttrans = Tm 202 8.3.2 Covalent Networks with Amorphous Switching Domains, Ttrans = Tg 204 8.3.3 Physical Networks with Crystallizable Switching Domains, Ttrans = Tm 205 8.3.4 Physical Networks with Amorphous Switching Domains, Ttrans = Tg 208 8.4 Applications of Biodegradable SMPs 209 8.4.1 Surgery and Medical Devices 209 8.4.2 Drug Release Systems 210 References 212 9 Biodegradable Elastic Hydrogels for Tissue Expander Application 217 Thanh Huyen Tran, John Garner, Yourong Fu, Kinam Park, and Kang Moo Huh 9.1 Introduction 217 9.1.1 Hydrogels 217 9.1.2 Elastic Hydrogels 217 9.1.3 History of Elastic Hydrogels as Biomaterials 218 9.1.4 Elasticity of Hydrogel for Tissue Application 219 9.2 Synthesis of Elastic Hydrogels 220 9.2.1 Chemical Elastic Hydrogels 220 9.2.1.1 Polymerization of Water-Soluble Monomers in the Presence of Crosslinking Agents 220 9.2.1.2 Crosslinking of Water-Soluble Polymers 221 9.2.2 Physical Elastic Hydrogels 222 9.2.2.1 Formation of Physical Elastic Hydrogels via Hydrogen Bonding 22 9.2.2.2 Formation of Physical Elastic Hydrogels via Hydrophobic Interaction 224 9.3 Physical Properties of Elastic Hydrogels 225 9.3.1 Mechanical Property 225 9.3.2 Swelling Property 227 9.3.3 Degradation of Biodegradable Elastic Hydrogels 229 9.4 Applications of Elastic Hydrogels 229 9.4.1 Tissue Engineering Application 229 9.4.2 Application of Elastic Shape-Memory Hydrogels as Biodegradable Sutures 230 9.5 Elastic Hydrogels for Tissue Expander Applications 231 9.6 Conclusion 233 References 234 10 Biodegradable Dendrimers and Dendritic Polymers 237 Jayant Khandare and Sanjay Kumar 10.1 Introduction 237 10.2 Challenges for Designing Biodegradable Dendrimers 240 10.2.1 Is Biodegradation a Critical Measure of Biocompatibility? 243 10.3 Design of Self-Immolative Biodegradable Dendrimers 245 10.3.1 Clevable Shells – Multivalent PEGylated Dendrimer for Prolonged Circulation 246 10.3.1.1 Polylysine-Core Biodegradable Dendrimer Prodrug 250 10.4 Biological Implications of Biodegradable Dendrimers 256 10.5 Future Perspectives of Biodegradable Dendrimers 259 10.6 Concluding Remarks 259 References 260 11 Analytical Methods for Monitoring Biodegradation Processes of Environmentally Degradable Polymers 263 Maarten van der Zee 11.1 Introduction 263 11.2 Some Background 263 11.3 Defi ning Biodegradability 265 11.4 Mechanisms of Polymer Degradation 266 11.4.1 Nonbiological Degradation of Polymers 266 11.4.2 Biological Degradation of Polymers 267 11.5 Measuring Biodegradation of Polymers 267 11.5.1 Enzyme Assays 269 11.5.1.1 Principle 269 11.5.1.2 Applications 269 11.5.1.3 Drawbacks 270 11.5.2 Plate Tests 270 11.5.2.1 Principle 270 11.5.2.2 Applications 270 11.5.2.3 Drawbacks 270 1.5.3 Respiration Tests 271 11.5.3.1 Principle 271 11.5.3.2 Applications 271 11.5.3.3 Suitability 271 11.5.4 Gas (CO2 or CH4) Evolution Tests 272 11.5.4.1 Principle 272 11.5.4.2 Applications 272 11.5.4.3 Suitability 273 11.5.5 Radioactively Labeled Polymers 273 11.5.5.1 Principle and Applications 273 11.5.5.2 Drawbacks 273 11.5.6 Laboratory-Scale Simulated Accelerating Environments 274 11.5.6.1 Principle 274 11.5.6.2 Applications 274 11.5.6.3 Drawbacks 275 11.5.7 Natural Environments, Field Trials 275 11.6 Conclusions 275 References 276 12 Modeling and Simulation of Microbial Depolymerization Processes of Xenobiotic Polymers 283 Masaji Watanabe and Fusako Kawai 12.1 Introduction 283 12.2 Analysis of Exogenous Depolymerization 284 12.2.1 Modeling of Exogenous Depolymerization 284 12.2.2 Biodegradation of PEG 287 12.3 Materials and Methods 287 12.3.1 Chemicals 287 12.3.2 Microorganisms and Cultivation 287 12.3.3 HPLC analysis 288 12.3.4 Numerical Study of Exogenous Depolymerization 288 12.3.5 Time Factor of Degradation Rate 291 12.3.6 Simulation with Time-Dependent Degradation Rate 293 12.4 Analysis of Endogenous Depolymerization 295 12.4.1 Modeling of Endogenous Depolymerization 295 12.4.2 Analysis of Enzymatic PLA Depolymerization 300 12.4.3 Simulation of an Endogenous Depolymerization Process of PLA 302 12.5 Discussion 306 Acknowledgments 307 References 307 13 Regenerative Medicine: Reconstruction of Tracheal and Pharyngeal Mucosal Defects in Head and Neck Surgery 309 Dorothee Rickert, Bernhard Hiebl, Rosemarie Fuhrmann, Friedrich Jung, Andreas Lendlein, and Ralf-Peter Franke 14.4.3 Architecture of Scaffold 353 14.4.4 Barrier and Guidance Structure 354 14.5 Biodegradable Polymers for Tissue Engineering 354 14.5.1 Synthetic Polymers 355 14.5.2 Biopolymers 356 14.5.3 Calcium Phosphates 357 14.6 Some Examples for Clinical Application of Scaffold 357 14.6.1 Skin 357 14.6.2 Articular Cartilage 357 14.6.3 Mandible 358 14.6.4 Vascular Tissue 359 14.7 Conclusions 361 References 361 15 Drug Delivery Systems 363 Kevin M. Shakesheff 15.1 Introduction 363 15.2 The Clinical Need for Drug Delivery Systems 364 15.3 Poly(α-Hydroxyl Acids) 365 15.3.1 Controlling Degradation Rate 366 15.4 Polyanhydrides 368 15.5 Manufacturing Routes 370 15.6 Examples of Biodegradable Polymer Drug Delivery Systems Under Development 371 15.6.1 Polyketals 371 15.6.2 Synthetic Fibrin 371 15.6.3 Nanoparticles 372 15.6.4 Microfabricated Devices 373 15.6.5 Polymer–Drug Conjugates 373 15.6.6 Responsive Polymers for Injectable Delivery 375 15.6.7 Peptide-Based Drug Delivery Systems 375 15.7 Concluding Remarks 376 References 376 16 Oxo-biodegradable Polymers: Present Status and Future Perspectives 379 Emo Chiellini, Andrea Corti, Salvatore D’Antone, and David Mckeen Wiles 16.1 Introduction 379 16.2 Controlled – Lifetime Plastics 380 16.3 The Abiotic Oxidation of Polyolefi ns 382 16.3.1 Mechanisms 383 16.3.2 Oxidation Products 384 16.3.3 Prodegradant Effects 386 16.4 Enhanced Oxo-biodegradation of Polyolefi ns 387 16.4.1 Biodegradation of Polyolefi n Oxidation Products 390 16.4.2 Standard Tests 391 16.4.3 Biometric Measurements 393 16.5 Processability and Recovery of Oxo-biodegradable Polyolefi ns 395 16.6 Concluding Remarks 396 References 397 Index 399