Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference 

October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota

Bio-compatible and Biodegradable Polymers for Biomedical Applications

The rising prevalence of diseases and health issues has spurred growing interest in biodegradable polymers. These materials can be synthesized through chemoenzymatic processing, ring-opening polymerization, grafting, copolymerization, esterification, enzymatic polymerization, condensation, and microbiological methods. Valued for their mechanical strength, non-toxic nature, and eco-friendliness, biodegradable polymers are widely applied in biomedical fields. Increasingly, biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles are explored for pharmaceutical and cosmetic uses. Natural polymers such as chitin, starch, and cellulose can be modified to enhance their properties, while synthetic biopolymers like PLA, PGA, PCL, PDS, and PLGA are specifically engineered for advanced diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Critical factors in designing biomaterials include stability, degradation rate, mechanical performance, and thermal characteristics. With proper design, these materials can be shaped into diverse forms to support or restore normal bodily functions. Advances in biopolymer technology continue to drive biomedical innovation, offering sustainable solutions with significant clinical potential. Keywords: biopolymers