A Review of Biodegradable Biomaterials for Medical Device Applications

Abstract

In the past few years, the field of biomedical engineering has made great progress in advancing the development and utilization of biodegradable biomaterials for medical devices. The non degradable alternatives do offer significant advantages such as no long term complications, no secondary surgeries to remove interal implants, less non healed tissue. This comprehensive review surveys the recent developments, existing uses, and potential future applications of biodegradable biomaterials in the design and in use of medical devices. With the emergence of the need for sophisticated biomaterials that can be safely degraded within the body to aid healing, demand for advanced healthcare continues to rise. Biodegradable materials are revolutionizing treatments in many specialties from orthopedic implants to drug delivery systems. And because they can slowly break down and permeate the body at the same time, helping to promote tissue growth and regeneration, they are ideal for a broad range of medical uses. In this article, we delve into the many different types of biodegradable polymers (both natural and synthetic), which are leading the medical device sector. In this post we will chart the landscape of these materials, learning about their unique properties, methods of manufacturing, and how, specifically, they are changing the realm of medicine. We also discuss the challenges encountered in creating these materials and relevant ongoing research towards minimizing existing deficiencies.