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. - Systematically covers individual polymer classes, from characteristics and biocompatibility to applications in biomedicine - Covers a broad range of applications in medicine, such as cardiac tissue engineering, targeted drug delivery, dentistry, and more - Provides an interdisciplinary review of polymers in medicine, allowing advanced students and experienced researchers in a range of biomedical and clinical fields to learn more about this fast-evolving area

This book contains the collected papers presented at the Inter national Symposium on Polymers in Medicine, Biomedical and Pharma cological Applications, which was held at Porto Cervo, Italy, May 24-28, 1982. To the best of our knowledge, this symposium was the first to be organized in Italy entirely devoted to the several aspects of the use of synthetic and semisynthetic macromolecular materials in the field of biomedical and pharmacological applications. The inten~ tion of the Organizing Committee of the symposium was the promotion of a scientific and cultural initiative to gain the attention of various experts in line research of the potential of suitably de signed "man-made" polymeric materials in biomedical applications. With highly qualified and worldwide attendance, the above goal was fully satisfied. Indeed the opportunity of meeting to gether in a well conceived and discreet corner of the world, scien tists with different cultural backgrounds and objectives helped ex tend the meaning of the symposium far beyond the Italian borders and the perspectives of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) , the major sponsor of the meeting.

The book provides an up-to-date overview of the diverse medical applications of advanced polymers. The book opens by presenting important background information on polymer chemistry and physicochemical characterization of polymers. This serves as essential scientific support for the subsequent chapters, each of which is devoted to the applications of polymers in a particular medical specialty. The coverage is broad, encompassing orthopedics, ophthalmology, tissue engineering, surgery, dentistry, oncology, drug delivery, nephrology, wound dressing and healing, and cardiology. The development of polymers that enhance the biocompatibility of blood-contacting medical devices and the incorporation of polymers within biosensors are also addressed. This book is an excellent guide to the recent advances in polymeric biomaterials and bridges the gap between the research literature and standard textbooks on the applications of polymers in medicine.

Polymers and polymer based composites have gained increasingly larger applications in medicine and surgery. Presently, most biomaterials applications rely on industrial substances that were initially developed by industry for non-medical purposes. Moreover, polymers have been often used regardless of their peculiar characteristics which can be viceversa and very attractive for some specific applications. In the past years we have assisted to a significative and faster development of polymer science as well as of medicine and surgery. The assistance of computer aided apparatus, the use of always more advanced instruments, the larger interest of the academic and industrial world, bring continuously new contributions to the research on biomedical and parmaceutical use of polymers. The need of a forum where these specific researchs can be presented and discussed, and the success of the 1st Conference on Polymers in Medicine, held in Porto Cervo in 1982, have encouraged the Editors to plana periodical meeting, focused on polymers and composites, to be held every odd year. This book contains papers selected by an International Scientific Committee among those presented at the 2nd International Conference on Polymers in Medicine, Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications, held in Capri, Italy, 3-7 June, 1985. In addition to contributed papers, several Authors were invited to present the "state of the art" as well as their personal contibution on specific key arguments. The level of all contributions was high, the participation well qualified, and the meeting interesting and hopefully pleasant.

The past decade has witnessed a vigorous growth in activities toward the development of a variety of biomedical devices ranging from the simple A-V shunt to the complex artificial heart. Re search and development teams have been created comprising engi neers, material scientists and clinicians and, perhaps for the first time, such groups are collaboratively bringing their respec tive talents to bear on problems associated with defects in the human organism. These collaborations have resulted in a prolifera tion of new information and a rapid and continuing redefinition of the frontiers of progress. It was to keep pace with these changes, and provide an updated view of the state of the art that this meeting was conceived. The present volume marks the publication of the proceedings of the Johnson & Johnson Symposium held in Morristown, New Jersey, on July 11 and 12, 1974. It surveys the applications of polymers to medical and surgical problems and contains discus sions on the biocompatibility of polymers, polymers as biomate rials, and the use of polymers in prosthetic devices and drug re lease systems. In addition, the Symposium offers recent perspec tives on the critical problems of the material-tissue interface, the design criteria for silicone-based systems, and the varied use of polymers in artificial hearts, kidneys, eyes and lungs.

Polymers are gaining ever-growing importance in medical research and development, both for their material properties and as conjugates. Although the development of novel materials and applications continues, the focus of research has shifted to the mechanisms of action and interaction of the new materials. This recent understanding has enabled scientists to design and tailor the properties of their products for increasingly specific purposes. 'Polymers in Medicine' was the title of the 40th Microsymposium of the Prague Meetings on Macromolecules. It brought together experts from academia and industry to discuss the application of polymers to biomedical science. This volume of Macromolecular Symposia presents many of the lectures from the meeting and offers an excellent overview of current research in this field.

Polymers are gaining ever-growing importance in medical research and development, both for their material properties and as conjugates. Although the development of novel materials and applications continues, the focus of research has shifted to the mechanisms of action and interaction of the new materials. This recent understanding has enabled scientists to design and tailor the properties of their products for increasingly specific purposes. 'Polymers in Medicine' was the title of the 40th Microsymposium of the Prague Meetings on Macromolecules. It brought together experts from academia and industry to discuss the application of polymers to biomedical science. This volume of Macromolecular Symposia presents many of the lectures from the meeting and offers an excellent overview of current research in this field.

This book contains papers on bioactive polymers presented by distinguished scientists at the Third International Conference on Polymers in Medicine, sponsored by the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and the European Society for Biomaterials. In accordance with the scope and objectives of the Conference, the papers shed light on two major topics connected with the formulation and utilization of bioactive polymers and related composites in the fields of biomaterials, polymeric drugs and drug delivery systems. Polymers in Medicine III thus contains much useful information in an interdisciplinary area that constitutes a suitable outlet for both conventional and specialty polymers.

Polymers for orthopedic and reconstructive surgery. Polymers for drug delivery and tissue engineering. Synthesis and characterization of biomedical polymers.

The unique physico-chemical properties of cationic polymers and their ability to be easily modified make them attractive for many biological applications. As a result there is a vast amount of research focussed on designing novel natural or synthetic cationic polymers with specific biological functionality. Cationic Polymers in Regenerative Medicine brings together the expertise of leading experts in the field to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in cationic polymer synthesis, modification and the design of biomaterials with different structures for therapeutic applications. Chapters cover recent developments in novel cationic polymer based systems including poly(L-lysine), Poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) and cationic triazine dendrimers as well as cationic polymer-coated micro- and nanoparticles and cationic cellulose and chitin nanocrystals. Applications discussed in the book include drug and gene delivery, therapeutics in thrombosis and inflammation as well as gene therapy. Suitable both for an educational perspective for those new to the field and those already active in the field, the book appeals to postgraduates and researchers. The broad aspects of the topics covered are suitable for polymer chemists interested in the fundamentals of the materials systems as well as pharmaceutical chemists, bioengineering and medical professionals interested in their applications.