THE USE OF POLYMER DESIGN IN RESORBABLE COLLOIDS

During the past decade, researchers in the field of polymer chemistry have developed a wide range of very powerful procedures for constructing ever-more-sophisticated polymers. These methods subsequently have been used in suitable systems to solve specific medical problems. This is complicated, and many key factors such as mechanical properties, biocompatibility, biodegradation, stability, and degradation profile must be considered. Colloid particle systems can be used to solve many biomedical- and pharmaceutical-related problems, and it is expected that nanotechnology can be used to develop these materials, devices, and systems even further. For example, an injectible scaffold system with a defined release and degradation profile has huge potential for the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues. This short, nonexhaustive review presents examples of polymer architecture in resorbable particles that have been compared and tested in biomedical applications. We also discuss the design of polymers for core-shell structures.