Polymers in the Pharmaceutical Applications - Natural and Bioactive Initiators and Catalysts in the Synthesis of Biodegradable and Bioresorbable Polyesters and Polycarbonates

Recently, particular interest of scientists has been focused on biomedical polymers, especially those used for drug delivery systems, therapeutic systems and macromolecular prodrugs. The aforementioned applications have opened new exciting prospects for medicine, because specially designed polymers are capable of delivering medicinal substances to the target diseased tissues and cells together with dosing those drugs according to controlled specified pharmacodynamics. Particular attention has recently been paid to chemistry of biocompatiable and biodegradable polymers, because they have an advantage of being readily hydrolyzed into removable and non-toxic products, which can be subsequently eliminated by metabolic pathways. Furthermore, the biomedical polymers have to be synthesized now using friendly for the environment and safe for human health, effective natural initiators, co-initiators and/or catalysts.