Main description:

Handbook of Polymers in Medicine combines core concepts and advanced research on polymers, providing a better understanding of this class of materials in medicine. The book covers all aspects of medical polymers from characteristics and biocompatibility, to the diverse array of applications in medicine. Chapters cover an introduction to polymers in medicine and the challenges associated with biocompatibility in human tissue, polyurethane and supramolecular polymers and their specific applications in medicine, from tissue regeneration to orthopedic surgery and cancer therapeutics.

This book offers an interdisciplinary approach that will appeal to researchers in a range of disciplines, including biomedical engineering, materials science, chemistry, pharmacology and translational medicine. The book will also make a useful reference for clinicians and those in medical fields who are interested in materials for medical applications, as well as R&D groups involved in medical device design.

Contents:

1. An introduction into the use of polymers in medicine
2. Role of polymers' chemistry and physics for medical applications
3. Natural and synthetic polymers in medicine
4. Biomimetic/bioinspired polymeric materials
5. An overview on cell-polymer interactions
6. Protein adsorption on polymeric surfaces
7. Biocompatibility of polymers
8. Hemocompatible polymers for medical applications
9. Nanostructured polymeric materials for medicine
10. Hydrogels: recent advances in medicine
11. Poly(ethylene glycol) based biomaterials
12. Polyurethane as biomaterials for biomedical applications
13. Polymer-protein conjugate as therapeutic
14. Acrylates and amines-based cationic polymers
15. Oxazoline- and caprolactone-based polymeric materials
16. Azobenzene-based polymers for medical applications
17. Supramolecular polymers for medical applications
18. Conductive polymers for medical applications
19. Biodegradable/bioresorbable polymers for medical applications
20. Bioresorbable polymers for medical applications
21. Stimuli-responsive polymers for medical applications
22. Polcaprolactone as biomaterials
23. Phospholipid polymers for medical applications
24. Silicon-based polymers for biomedical application
25. Polymers in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
26. Polymers in wound repair and skin regeneration
27. Polymers in bone and orthopedic surgery
28. Emerging polymers in dentistry
29. Polymers for cardiovascular engineering
30. Polymers in corneal regeneration and ophthalmology
31. Polymers in cancer research and clinical oncology
32. Polymers in drug delivery and targeting
33. Polymer based biosensors for medical applications
34. Processing and characterization of polymeric biomaterials
35. Regulations and standards for polymers in medicine
36. Polymers in medicine: State-of-the-art and challenges