Polymeric Biomaterials for Healthcare Applications

Book excerpt: Polymeric Biomaterials for Healthcare Applications details a broad range of polymeric biomaterials, methods of synthesis and preparation, and their various applications in healthcare and biomedicine. The book provides a fundamental overview of polymers and processing technologies to allow clinical scientists to explore the use of these polymers in alternative applications. A wide variety of healthcare applications are covered, including treatment for autoimmune diseases and bacterial infections, tissue engineering, gene delivery, wound dressing, and more. The book provides a core introductory text for clinical and materials scientists new to the area of polymeric biomaterials. This book will prove useful to academics and researchers in materials science, biomedical engineering, clinical science and pharmaceutical science. - Covers a broad range of polymeric biomaterials, including chitosan, alginate, cellulose, collagen, synthetic conjugates, and more - Details a wide variety of healthcare applications for polymeric biomaterials, such as orthopedic engineering, antibiotics, targeted drug delivery, and more - Provides a detailed overview of polymer processing technologies and sterilization considerations