Polymeric materials as biomaterials under particular consideration of biodegradable polymers

Abstract Biomaterials may be defined as artificial materials which fulfill the mechanical requirements and interact with the biosystem they are in contact with in same way as a natural material would react in the same place. While the requirements of mechanical properties can be reached by suitable organo‐polymeric and inorganic materials the interfacial biocompatiblity is neither understood in all its complexity nor can be fulfilled by any of the applied materials. Surface modification and characterization with greatest scrutiny and the observation of the answer of selected parameters of the biosystem are a subject of utmost interest. A few examples will be presented. In the long range, however, it has to be considered that any material is degraded and hence should present continuously a renewable biocompatible surface. On the other hand, materials are desired which deliberately are biodegradable. Presently available materials are polylactides and copolymers. An alternative could be presented by polydepsipeptides because of two reasons, (i) the local concentration of acid formed upon degradation would be reduced as compared to polylactides which in certain cases might be advantageous and (ii) the aminoacid units could carry side groups with bioactive molecules attached. Therefore, a new method of acylation of an aminoacid with a hydroxyacid is presented as well as the cyclisation to result in the cyclic depsipeptide and the polymerisation to yield the polydepsipeptide. The microstructure of the polymers, the thermal properties and the degradation behaviour is presented.