Polymers

Small structures formed by the repetition of long units are called polymer. Under suitable conditions, monomers combine through polymerization reactions to form polymer molecules.

Classification of Polymers

Polymers can be classified as natural and synthetic based on their method of synthesis. The main advantage of natural polymers is their biocompatibility, while synthetic polymers exhibit significantly better mechanical properties and thermal stability. Newly developed polymeric materials based on mixtures of natural and synthetic polymers are frequently preferred because they are biocompatible and possess favorable thermal and mechanical properties for biomedical applications.

Natural Polymers

Natural polymers are indispensable sources in applications within texture engineering. Their biocompatibility, lack of toxic effects, and absence of undesirable reactions in the body represent their most significant advantages. However, it is quite difficult to shape natural polymers into various forms; for example, high temperatures applied during processing can disrupt their natural structure. Polymers derived from biological structures found in nature include starch, cellulose, chitin and other polisakkaritler; albumin, collagen, gelatin, and fibrin.

Synthetic Polymers

Synthetic polymers differ from their constituent monomers in various feature. The monomers of synthetic polymers consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Therefore, the structure of synthetic polymers contains long hydrocarbon chains. Examples of synthetic polymers include polyamides, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).