Contemporary Topics in Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Contemporary topics in polymeric materials for biomedical applications are reviewed, with the emphasis on the modes of interaction of water soluble polymers as well as their conjugates, and those of microdomain-structured polymers with proteins and cells. The nature of biocompatibility of these polymer surfaces is discussed in terms of the random-network concept of water molecules on the polymer surface. Several recent studies on biohybridized and biomimicking materials are also reviewed.