Biopolymers for Military Use: Opportunities and Environment Implications - a Review

When reading this title, everyone tends to wonder why is there need to talk about biopolymers in the defense field. Isn’t the same subject as for the civil field? Or, are we really debating about bio-polymers? Allow me to recall two of the most known and used definitions of biopolymers: chemicals that preserve their efficacy while maintaining low toxicity; bricks of human organs or bones reconstruction. But aren’t they also important puzzle pieces when considering the environment? In this regard, another definition should be added: biopolymers are substances produced without toxic byproducts; they are biodegradable or, at least, biocompatible, having a minimal impact on the environment. The governments finance military forces, whose duties are the preparation and conduction of different operations, in order to defend people and land. While maintaining continuous improvement of infrastructure and equipment, military forces must assume a growing significance to environmental compliance and restoration efficiency. Military purposes include utilization of explosive devices and protection equipment. We may number here also biopolymers used as drug delivery matrices. Or as matrices for drug entrapment, being known that every organic molecule has a particular structure that may imprint in a biopolymer matrix. It is known that the material and its use are inseparable, and that not every material is suitable for any kind of application. Some of them perform successfully under static conditions, but fail or perform undesirably during real situations. Therefore, they must be evaluated together. In this context, the obtaining and use of environment-friendly compositions, or biopolymers, in order to minimize the risks of potential accidents, while improving the performances, is mandatory.