Polymer for Medical

Applications

Biodegradable Polymers as Drug

Carrier Systems
Polyesters
Lactide/Glycolide Copolymers
Have been used for the delivery of steriods,
anticancer agent, antibiotics, etc.
PLLA is found as an excellent biomaterials and
safe for in vivo (Lactic acid contains an asymmetric
-carbon atom with three different isomers as D-,
L- and DL-lactic acid)
PLGA is most widely investigated biodegradable
polymers for drug delivery.
Lactide/glycolide copolymers have been subjected
to extensive animal and human trials without any
significant harmful side effects

Biodegradable Polymers as Drug

Carrier Systems
Poly(amides)
Natural Polymers
Remain attractive because they are natural
products of living organism, readily available,
relatively inexpensive, etc.
Mostly focused on the use of proteins such as
gelatin, collagen, and albumin

Biodegradable Polymers as Drug

Carrier Systems
Polymer Processing
Drug-incorporated matrices can be formulated
either compression or injection molding
Polymer & drug can be ground in a Micro Mill,
sieve into particle size of 90-120 m, then
press into circular disc
Alternatively drug can be mixed into molten
polymer to form small chips, then it is fed into
injection molder to mold into desired shape

Biodegradable Polymers as Drug

Carrier Systems
Why nanoparticles are desired for drug
delivery system?

Biodegradable Polymers as Drug

Carrier Systems
Nanoparticles can be used to increase drug
solubility, have lower toxicity & target drug
delivery

In order to use nanoparticle as drug delivery,

they must satisfy number of criteria;
Biocompatible
Good drug payload
Manufacturing cost must be reasonable

Polymer for Dental Application

Four main groups of materials used in
dentistry;
Metal and alloys
Ceramics
Synthetic organic polymers & biopolymers
(derived from natural tissues)
Composites (an organic matrix polymers filled
with inorganic fine particles)

Polymer for Dental Application

In 19th century, gutth-percha was used for
filling
In 1909, PMMA was used as artificial teeth
filling
In 1930s, polyamide, polyester,
polyethylene were prepared in different
forms (rigid, soft, fibers, adhesives, etc) for
several applications (filling, implant,
sutures, etc)

Schematic of different area of

chemistry

Polymer for Dental Application

Bases, liners and varnishes for cavities
There is a large diversity or organic and
inorganic materials for this purposes
Zinc polycarboxylate (or polyacrylate) cement
is prepared by mixing zinc oxide and the
polymer solution, and water solution of
polyacrylic acid

Polymer for Dental Application

Filling & Restorative Materials
Made up of organic matrix and inorganic
particulate or fibrous filling. Held together by
coupling agent
PMMA resins have been used as filling
materials, but they have several
disadvantages

Nonadhesion to dental structures

Low colour stability
Low molecular weight of monomer
High polymerization shrinkage

Textile based Biomaterials for

Surgical Application
2000 BC, natural fibers like linen, silk, horsehair
were used as suture materials
After world war II revolution of medical textile,
used of steel wire and synthetic fibers (PP,
nylon, polyester)
In early 1970s, two synthetic absorbable wound
closure biomaterials, i.e. Dexon & Vicyrl were
introduced
The four most widely used textile structure;
woven, knitted, nonwoven and braided

Commercial Suture materials

Braided Polyester

Multifilament nylon

Polythetrafluoroethylene

Textile based Biomaterials for

Surgical Application
Wound closure biomaterials are divided
into;
Suture materials
Tissue adhesives
staplers

Textile based Biomaterials for

Surgical Application
Suture- is a strand of textile materials (natural or
synthetic), used to ligate blood vessel and draw
tissue together
Ideal suture should
Physical and mechanical properties (adequate tensile
strength, etc)
Handling properties (easy to handle)
Biological properties (unfavourable for bacterial
growth)
Biodegradation properties (absorbable; its tensile
strength loss must match the healing rate of the tissue
to be closed)

Table of Relative Tissue Reactivity

to Sutures

Textile based Biomaterials for

Surgical Application
Suture materials can be classified into 2
broad categories;
Absorbable;loss their entire tensile strength
within two to three months
Nonabsorbable; retain their strength longer
than two to three months

Biocompatibility of Elastomer
Elastomer-definition
Flexible- i.e.have low rigidity
Highly deformable, i.e. able to withstand
strong deforming forces without rupturing and
have elongation at rupture over 200%
Elastic or resilient, i.e. able to return to their
original shape and size after deforming forces
is removed

Biocompatibility of Elastomer
Various famililes of Elastomers
General-use elastomer- natural rubber (NR),
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), etc
Special elastomer- ethylene propylene and
diene copolymer (EPM, EPDM), nitrile
butadiene copolymer (NBR)
Very special elastomers- high thermal and/or
chemical resistance elastomerfluoroelastomer, silicone elastomer, etc
Thermoplastic elastomer

Biocompatibility of Elastomer
Silicone elastomer
Widely used because it is strong, very mobile
bone of their Si-O-Si (siloxane) caternary
backbone; which provide chemical inertness
and flexibility, stable over time at a body
temp., show little tissue reactivity, and highly
resistant to chemical attack and heat.

Medical device
in human body