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Materials


Polymers rise


As one of the largest categories within the advanced material industry, polymers continue to grow within the medical devices market. Thanks to their versatility, they can be used to construct medical scaffolds, drug delivery carriers, implants, and bone cement, the success of which is due to their


biocompatibility. Scientists continuously research polymers to uncover their potential for medical devices and biomimetic applications. Allison DeMajistre speaks to Eric Appel, associate professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford, and Joseph Kennedy, professor of polymer science and chemistry at The University of Akron, to discover the latest polymer developments for medical devices.


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t’s impossible to imagine a world without polymers. From biopolymers produced from natural sources such as protein to synthetic polymers used in medical devices, household goods, and automotive parts, we are surrounded by them, and they play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life.


Over the past few decades, polymeric materials have significantly impacted contemporary medicine’s evolution and have become the predominant material for the construction of medical devices. Although the FDA already approves many medical polymers for their proven biocompatibility, biostability and non-toxic biodegradation,


Medical Device Developments / www.nsmedicaldevices.com


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