Pharmaceutical application of selected polymers

Abstract

The ubiquity of polymers in everyday applications also translates into their applicability in the broadly defined fields of medical and pharmaceutical sciences. Polymeric compounds find applications in ophthalmology, dentistry, orthopaedics, dermatology and plastic surgery. It is important to emphasise that they are used internally (e.g., endoprostheses, biodegradable scaffolds) and externally (e.g., so-called intelligent dressings, ointments, and creams). This publication presents basic polymers and their applications in pharmaceutical sciences. Their applications are outlined, among others, in chemical laboratories involved in drug synthesis, as drug carriers, and packaging production. Special attention is paid to the physico-chemical properties of polymers.