The significance of macromolecular architecture in governing structure-property relationship for biomaterial applications: an overview

Abstract

The functional response of polymeric materials including biocompatibility and biodegradability in context of biomedical devices is governed by the macromolecular architecture, notably, random, block, star, graft and cross-linked polymers. The change in macromolecular architecture from diblock to triblock, linear to cyclic, star to dendritic, network to cross-linked (supra-molecular to covalent), etc. and their synthetic conditions govern the formation and properties of different materials for biological applications. For example, different self-assemblies and gelations from block copolymers, multi-molecular and uni-molecular self-assemblies from star polymers and dendrimers, unique thermal and hydrodynamic properties of cyclic polymer based systems compared to other polymeric materials, etc. A part of the review describes the different synthetic methods that are currently being employed to obtain biomaterials. While, the other part underscores the significance of macromolecular architectures on the properties of obtained materials. In summary, we elucidate here structure-molecular parameter-property relationships of macromolecular architecture in context of biomedical devices.

Keywords:

• Biocompatibility
• biodegradation
• cytotoxicity
• injectable hydrogels
• nanogels
• polymeric biomaterials

Acknowledgements

S.S. Patil sincerely thanks Dr. Prakash P. Wadgaonkar for fruitful discussion and directions in the preparation of the overview article and valuable comments.