Pharmaceutical and biomedical polymers: Basics, modifications, and applications

At present, polymers are deemed indispensable in many aspects of human life including health and wellness. Polymers are broadly categorized as natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic polymers. Natural polymers have been used since ancient times for the betterment of human health, whereas the pharmaceutical and biomedical applications of semi-synthetic and synthetic polymers have been on the rise since the 1930s. In this book chapter, we provide essential information about natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic polymers of pharmaceutical and biomedical importance. For every polymer type or class, we provide a general structure and describe polymer synthesis methods, key physicochemical properties, and important pharmaceutical and biomedical applications including commercially available products.