Advanced functional polymer materials for biomedical applications

Abstract

Polymer structures are essential in biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to form intricate structures on micro- to nanometer scales. This review, emphasizing electrospinning and phase inversion techniques, examines the fabrication strategies and chemical design of polymer structures for biomedical use. Electrospinning, particularly needleless electrospinning, produces nanofibres with high porosity and flexibility and is widely applied in tissue engineering and drug delivery. Phase inversion, including thermal, nonsolvent-, vapor- and evaporation-induced phase separation, allows precise control over polymer properties but faces challenges in terms of cooling rates and solvent characteristics. Chemical design through doping, functionalization, cross-linking and copolymerization enhances the biocompatibility, biodegradability and mechanical properties of polymers, facilitating advanced applications in drug delivery, tissue scaffolding and biosensors. Advanced functional polymers are revolutionizing biomedical fields, offering innovative solutions for therapeutic medicine delivery, disease detection, diagnostics, and regenerative medicine. Despite remarkable progress, challenges, such as scalability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact, persist. This review underscores the transformative potential of advanced polymer materials in medical treatments and advocates for continuous research and interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome existing challenges and fully exploit the capabilities of these materials in improving patient care and medical outcomes. Future perspectives highlight enhancing precision control mechanisms, integrating phase inversion with other techniques and developing large-scale production methods to advance the field further.