This review of recent research on biomedical polymers discusses natural, synthetic, biodegradable, and non-biodegradable polymers and their various applications. Chapters discuss tissue engineering, polymeric drug delivery systems, hydrogels, polymeric replacement heart valves, UHMWPE in joint replacement, polymer applications in biosensors, and more.

From the Preface: “This book is concerned with biomedical applications of polymeric materials...The intention is to highlight the relationship between polymers, the way they are processed, and their resulting properties. The content should therefore appeal to a broad range of reader from industrial to academic...”

Target Audience: Materials scientists and biomedical engineers who are interested in the latest developments in biomedical polymers.

Table of Contents:

Introduction to Polymeric Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Introduction to Polymeric Drug Delivery Systems

Hydrogels in Cell Encapsulation and Tissue Engineering

Biodegradable Polymers for Drug Delivery Systems

Polymers as Replacement Materials for Heart Valves

Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) in Joint Replacement

Polymers in Biosensors

Tissue Engineering Using Natural Polymers

Index