Nanostructured Polymer Composites for Biomedical Applications

Nanostructured polymer composites are the combination of polymers and inorganic / organic fillers at the nanometer scale. This includes synthetic and natural polymeric structured, but are not limited to, polysaccharides, aliphatic polyesters, polypeptides and proteins, and polynucleic acids; fillers include nano oxides, carbide and nitride of metals, clays, hydroxyapatite, LDH and metal nanoparticles. The interaction between filler components of nanostructured polymer composite at the nanometer scale enables them to act as molecular bridges in the polymer matrix. This is the basis for enhanced mechanical properties of nanocomposite, compared to conventional microcomposites. The uses of these nanocomposites in biomedicine is the focus of this book.

Nanostructured Polymer Composites for Biomedical Applications addresses one of the most promising, but also most difficult, challenges that researchers face: the creation of nanostructured polymer composites that have not only superior performance and mechanical properties but also have acceptable biological function. This book discusses current efforts to meet this challenge. A variety of polymeric bio-nanocomposite materials are generated by the combination of different inorganic nanoparticles with synthetic or natural polymers.

The multidisciplinary nature of nanostructured polymer composite biomaterials brings together researchers from various fields, including materials science, polymer science, biomedical engineering and biomedicine. Such collaborative work often leads to the generation of new terminology and definitions that are used across the individual disciplines. This book will help researchers and engineers in all these fields to develop new products and devices for use in effective medical treatment.

• Summarizes the most recent strategies to develop nanostructured polymer composite biomaterials for biomedicine
• Outlines the major preparation and characterization techniques for a range of polymer nanocomposites used in biomedicine
• Explores the design of new types of nanostructured polymer composites for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, gene therapy and bone replacement