Poly(lactic acid) as degradable resorbable polymer matrices in Biomedical Engineering: An overview

Abstract

Polymers emerged as a boon in the advancement of modern medicine. The utilization of natural polymers for biomedical applications has been known for thousands of years but the application of degradable synthetic polymers is relatively recent. The field of biomedical engineering is shifting its focus towards degradable polymers in general and biodegradable polymers in specific. In recent times, due to substantial knowledge about the biocompatibility of degradable polymers, their specific applications in biomedical engineering become advantageous. This article provides a comprehensive coverage of the main advances published in recent years, outlining the synthesis, degradability and biomedical applications of poly (lactic acid).