Andreas Lendlein is Director of the Institute of Polymer Research at Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht in Teltow, Germany, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin. He is Professor for Materials in Life Sciencesat University of Potsdam and Professor in Chemistry at the Freie Universitat Berlin as well as member of the medical faculty of Charite University Medicine Berlin. His research interests in macromolecular chemistry and material science are polymer-based biomaterials with special emphasis given to multifunctional materials, stimuli-sensitive polymers, especially shape-memory polymers, and biomimetic polymers. Furthermore, he explores potential applications of such biomaterials in biofunctional implants, controlled drug delivery systems, and regenerative therapies. He completed his habilitation in Macromolecular Chemistry in 2002 at the RWTH Aachen University, worked as a visiting scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and received his doctoral degree in Materials Science from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich in 1996. Andreas Lendlein received more than 20 awards for his scientific work, and his achievements as an entrepreneur including the BioFUTURE Award in 1998, the 2000 Hermann-Schnell Award and the World Technology Network Award in the category Health & Medicine in 2005. He has published more than 220 papers in journals and books, and is an inventor of more than 250 published patents and patent applications. Adam Sisson received his PhD in Supramolecular Chemistry in 2005 under the guidance of Professor Anthony Davis at the University of Bristol, UK. Following this, he moved into the group of Professor Stefan Matile at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, to conduct postdoctoralresearch in self-assembling nanomaterials. In 2007 he embarked upon research into polymeric nanogels as an Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung sponsored research fellow with Professor Rainer Haag at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. Since 2010 he is leading a Junior research group "Cell and Tissue Specific Materials" at the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht in Teltow, Germany. His research interests focus on studying and manipulating the interactions of synthetic materials with variousbiological moieties in a range of applications.

• PrefacePOLYESTERSHistorical BackgroundPreparative MethodsPhysical PropertiesDegradation MechanismsBeyond Classical Poly(Hydroxycarboxylic Acids)BIOTECHNOLOGICALLY PRODUCED BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERSIntroductionHistoryPolyhydroxyalkanoates -Granules MorphologyBiosynthesis and Biodegradability of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) and Other PolyhydroxyalkanoatesExtraction and RecoveryPhysical, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of PolyhydroxyalkanoatesFuture DirectionsPOLYANHYDRIDESIntroductionTypes of PolyanhydrideSynthesisPropertiesIn Vitro Degradation and Erosion of PolyanhydridesIn Vivo Degradation and Elimination of PolyanhydridesToxicological Aspects of PolyanhydridesFabrication of Delivery SystemsProduction and World MarketBiomedical ApplicationsPOLY(ORTHO ESTERS)Introductionpoe IIpoe IVSolid PolymersGel-Like MaterialsPolymers Based on an Alternate Diketene AcetalConclusionsBIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS CMPOSED OF NATURALLY OCCURRING ALPHA-AMINO ACIDSIntroductionAmino Acid-Based Biodegradable Polymers AABBPs)Conclusion and PerspectivesBIODEGRADABLE POLYURETHANES AND POLY(ESTER AMIDE)SChemistry and Properties of Biodegradable PolyurethanesBiodegradation Mechanisms of PolyurethanesNew Polymerization Trends to Obtain Degradable PolyurethanesAliphatic Poly(ester amide)s: A Family of Biodegradable Thermoplastics with Interest as New BiomaterialsCARBOHYDRATESIntroductionAlginateCarrageenanCellulose and Its DerivativesMicrobial CelluloseChitin and ChitosanDextranGellanGuar GumHyaluronic Acid (Hyaluronan)PuululanScleroglucanXanthanSummaryBIODEGRADABLE SHAPE-MEMORY POLYMERSIntroductionGeneral Concept of SMPsClasses of Degradable SMPsApplications of Biodegradable SMPsBIODEGRADABLE ELASTIC HYDROGELS FOR TISSUE EXPANDER APPLICATIONIntroductionSynthesis of Elastic HydrogelsPhysical Properties of Elastic HydrogelsApplications of Elastic HydrogelsElastic Hydrogels for Tissue Expander ApplicationsBIODEGRADABLE DENDRIMERS AND DENDRITIC POLYMERSIntroductionChallenges for Designing Biodegradable DendrimersDesign of Self-Immolative Biodegradable DendrimersBiological Implications of Biodegradable DendrimersFuture Perspectives of Biodegradable DendrimersConcluding RemarksANALYTICAL METHODS FOR MONITORING BIODEGRADATION PROCESSES OF ENVIRONMENTALLY DEGRADABLE POLYMERSIntroductionSome BackgroundDefining BiodegradabilityMechanisms of Polymer DegradationMeasuring Biodegradation of PolymersConclusionsMODELING AND SIMULATION OF MICROBIAL DEPOLYMERIZATION PROCESSES OF XENOBIOTIC POLYMERSIntroductionAnalysis of Exogeneous DepolymerizationMaterials and MethodsAnalysis of Endogenous DepolymerizationDiscussionREGENERATIVE MEDICINE: RECONSTRUCTION OF TRACHEAL AND PHARYNGEAL MUCOSAL DEFECTS IN HEAD AND NECK SURGERYIntroductionRegenerative Medicine for the Reconstruction of the Upper Aerodigestive TractMethods and Novel Therapeutical Options in Head and Neck SurgeryVascularization of Tissue-Engineered ConstructsApplication of Stem Cells in Regenerative MedicineConclusionBIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS AS SCAFFOLDS FOR TISSUE ENGINEERINGIntroductionShort Overview of Regenerative BiologyMinimum Requirements for Tissue EngineeringStructure of ScaffoldsBiodegradable Polymers for Tissue EngineeringSome Examples for Clinical Application of ScaffoldConclusionsDRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMSIntroductionThe Clinical Need for Drug Delivery SystemsPoly(Alpha-Hydroxyl Acids)PolyanhydridesManufacturing RoutesExamples of Biodegradable Polymer Drug Delivery Systems Under DevelopmentConcluding RemarksOXO-BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS: PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVESIntroductionControlled-Lifetime PlasticsThe Abiotic Oxidation of PolyolefinsEnhanced Oxo-Biodegradation of PolyolefinsProcessability and Recovery of Oxo-Biodegradable PolyolefinsConcluding Remarks

“In short, the handbook is a very good reference for getting information about different types of biodegradable polymers with important examples, synthetic procedures, and application areas, specifically for medicine and biomedical applications.”  (Materials Views, 15 July 2014)

Andreas Lendlein is Director of the Institute of Polymer Research at Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht in Teltow, Germany, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin. He is Professor for Materials in Life Sciencesat University of Potsdam and Professor in Chemistry at the Freie Universitat Berlin as well as member of the medical faculty of Charite University Medicine Berlin. His research interests in macromolecular chemistry and material science are polymer-based biomaterials with special emphasis given to multifunctional materials, stimuli-sensitive polymers, especially shape-memory polymers, and biomimetic polymers. Furthermore, he explores potential applications of such biomaterials in biofunctional implants, controlled drug delivery systems, and regenerative therapies. He completed his habilitation in Macromolecular Chemistry in 2002 at the RWTH Aachen University, worked as a visiting scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and received his doctoral degree in Materials Science from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich in 1996. Andreas Lendlein received more than 20 awards for his scientific work, and his achievements as an entrepreneur including the BioFUTURE Award in 1998, the 2000 Hermann-Schnell Award and the World Technology Network Award in the category Health & Medicine in 2005. He has published more than 220 papers in journals and books, and is an inventor of more than 250 published patents and patent applications. Adam Sisson received his PhD in Supramolecular Chemistry in 2005 under the guidance of Professor Anthony Davis at the University of Bristol, UK. Following this, he moved into the group of Professor Stefan Matile at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, to conduct postdoctoralresearch in self-assembling nanomaterials. In 2007 he embarked upon research into polymeric nanogels as an Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung sponsored research fellow with Professor Rainer Haag at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. Since 2010 he is leading a Junior research group "Cell and Tissue Specific Materials" at the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht in Teltow, Germany. His research interests focus on studying and manipulating the interactions of synthetic materials with variousbiological moieties in a range of applications.

• PrefacePOLYESTERSHistorical BackgroundPreparative MethodsPhysical PropertiesDegradation MechanismsBeyond Classical Poly(Hydroxycarboxylic Acids)BIOTECHNOLOGICALLY PRODUCED BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERSIntroductionHistoryPolyhydroxyalkanoates -Granules MorphologyBiosynthesis and Biodegradability of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) and Other PolyhydroxyalkanoatesExtraction and RecoveryPhysical, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of PolyhydroxyalkanoatesFuture DirectionsPOLYANHYDRIDESIntroductionTypes of PolyanhydrideSynthesisPropertiesIn Vitro Degradation and Erosion of PolyanhydridesIn Vivo Degradation and Elimination of PolyanhydridesToxicological Aspects of PolyanhydridesFabrication of Delivery SystemsProduction and World MarketBiomedical ApplicationsPOLY(ORTHO ESTERS)Introductionpoe IIpoe IVSolid PolymersGel-Like MaterialsPolymers Based on an Alternate Diketene AcetalConclusionsBIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS CMPOSED OF NATURALLY OCCURRING ALPHA-AMINO ACIDSIntroductionAmino Acid-Based Biodegradable Polymers AABBPs)Conclusion and PerspectivesBIODEGRADABLE POLYURETHANES AND POLY(ESTER AMIDE)SChemistry and Properties of Biodegradable PolyurethanesBiodegradation Mechanisms of PolyurethanesNew Polymerization Trends to Obtain Degradable PolyurethanesAliphatic Poly(ester amide)s: A Family of Biodegradable Thermoplastics with Interest as New BiomaterialsCARBOHYDRATESIntroductionAlginateCarrageenanCellulose and Its DerivativesMicrobial CelluloseChitin and ChitosanDextranGellanGuar GumHyaluronic Acid (Hyaluronan)PuululanScleroglucanXanthanSummaryBIODEGRADABLE SHAPE-MEMORY POLYMERSIntroductionGeneral Concept of SMPsClasses of Degradable SMPsApplications of Biodegradable SMPsBIODEGRADABLE ELASTIC HYDROGELS FOR TISSUE EXPANDER APPLICATIONIntroductionSynthesis of Elastic HydrogelsPhysical Properties of Elastic HydrogelsApplications of Elastic HydrogelsElastic Hydrogels for Tissue Expander ApplicationsBIODEGRADABLE DENDRIMERS AND DENDRITIC POLYMERSIntroductionChallenges for Designing Biodegradable DendrimersDesign of Self-Immolative Biodegradable DendrimersBiological Implications of Biodegradable DendrimersFuture Perspectives of Biodegradable DendrimersConcluding RemarksANALYTICAL METHODS FOR MONITORING BIODEGRADATION PROCESSES OF ENVIRONMENTALLY DEGRADABLE POLYMERSIntroductionSome BackgroundDefining BiodegradabilityMechanisms of Polymer DegradationMeasuring Biodegradation of PolymersConclusionsMODELING AND SIMULATION OF MICROBIAL DEPOLYMERIZATION PROCESSES OF XENOBIOTIC POLYMERSIntroductionAnalysis of Exogeneous DepolymerizationMaterials and MethodsAnalysis of Endogenous DepolymerizationDiscussionREGENERATIVE MEDICINE: RECONSTRUCTION OF TRACHEAL AND PHARYNGEAL MUCOSAL DEFECTS IN HEAD AND NECK SURGERYIntroductionRegenerative Medicine for the Reconstruction of the Upper Aerodigestive TractMethods and Novel Therapeutical Options in Head and Neck SurgeryVascularization of Tissue-Engineered ConstructsApplication of Stem Cells in Regenerative MedicineConclusionBIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS AS SCAFFOLDS FOR TISSUE ENGINEERINGIntroductionShort Overview of Regenerative BiologyMinimum Requirements for Tissue EngineeringStructure of ScaffoldsBiodegradable Polymers for Tissue EngineeringSome Examples for Clinical Application of ScaffoldConclusionsDRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMSIntroductionThe Clinical Need for Drug Delivery SystemsPoly(Alpha-Hydroxyl Acids)PolyanhydridesManufacturing RoutesExamples of Biodegradable Polymer Drug Delivery Systems Under DevelopmentConcluding RemarksOXO-BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS: PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVESIntroductionControlled-Lifetime PlasticsThe Abiotic Oxidation of PolyolefinsEnhanced Oxo-Biodegradation of PolyolefinsProcessability and Recovery of Oxo-Biodegradable PolyolefinsConcluding Remarks

“In short, the handbook is a very good reference for getting information about different types of biodegradable polymers with important examples, synthetic procedures, and application areas, specifically for medicine and biomedical applications.”  (Materials Views, 15 July 2014)

Andreas Lendlein is Director of the Institute of Polymer Research at Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht in Teltow, Germany, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin. He is Professor for Materials in Life Sciencesat University of Potsdam and Professor in Chemistry at the Freie Universitat Berlin as well as member of the medical faculty of Charite University Medicine Berlin. His research interests in macromolecular chemistry and material science are polymer-based biomaterials with special emphasis given to multifunctional materials, stimuli-sensitive polymers, especially shape-memory polymers, and biomimetic polymers. Furthermore, he explores potential applications of such biomaterials in biofunctional implants, controlled drug delivery systems, and regenerative therapies. He completed his habilitation in Macromolecular Chemistry in 2002 at the RWTH Aachen University, worked as a visiting scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and received his doctoral degree in Materials Science from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich in 1996. Andreas Lendlein received more than 20 awards for his scientific work, and his achievements as an entrepreneur including the BioFUTURE Award in 1998, the 2000 Hermann-Schnell Award and the World Technology Network Award in the category Health & Medicine in 2005. He has published more than 220 papers in journals and books, and is an inventor of more than 250 published patents and patent applications. Adam Sisson received his PhD in Supramolecular Chemistry in 2005 under the guidance of Professor Anthony Davis at the University of Bristol, UK. Following this, he moved into the group of Professor Stefan Matile at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, to conduct postdoctoralresearch in self-assembling nanomaterials. In 2007 he embarked upon research into polymeric nanogels as an Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung sponsored research fellow with Professor Rainer Haag at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. Since 2010 he is leading a Junior research group "Cell and Tissue Specific Materials" at the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht in Teltow, Germany. His research interests focus on studying and manipulating the interactions of synthetic materials with variousbiological moieties in a range of applications.

• PrefacePOLYESTERSHistorical BackgroundPreparative MethodsPhysical PropertiesDegradation MechanismsBeyond Classical Poly(Hydroxycarboxylic Acids)BIOTECHNOLOGICALLY PRODUCED BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERSIntroductionHistoryPolyhydroxyalkanoates -Granules MorphologyBiosynthesis and Biodegradability of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) and Other PolyhydroxyalkanoatesExtraction and RecoveryPhysical, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of PolyhydroxyalkanoatesFuture DirectionsPOLYANHYDRIDESIntroductionTypes of PolyanhydrideSynthesisPropertiesIn Vitro Degradation and Erosion of PolyanhydridesIn Vivo Degradation and Elimination of PolyanhydridesToxicological Aspects of PolyanhydridesFabrication of Delivery SystemsProduction and World MarketBiomedical ApplicationsPOLY(ORTHO ESTERS)Introductionpoe IIpoe IVSolid PolymersGel-Like MaterialsPolymers Based on an Alternate Diketene AcetalConclusionsBIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS CMPOSED OF NATURALLY OCCURRING ALPHA-AMINO ACIDSIntroductionAmino Acid-Based Biodegradable Polymers AABBPs)Conclusion and PerspectivesBIODEGRADABLE POLYURETHANES AND POLY(ESTER AMIDE)SChemistry and Properties of Biodegradable PolyurethanesBiodegradation Mechanisms of PolyurethanesNew Polymerization Trends to Obtain Degradable PolyurethanesAliphatic Poly(ester amide)s: A Family of Biodegradable Thermoplastics with Interest as New BiomaterialsCARBOHYDRATESIntroductionAlginateCarrageenanCellulose and Its DerivativesMicrobial CelluloseChitin and ChitosanDextranGellanGuar GumHyaluronic Acid (Hyaluronan)PuululanScleroglucanXanthanSummaryBIODEGRADABLE SHAPE-MEMORY POLYMERSIntroductionGeneral Concept of SMPsClasses of Degradable SMPsApplications of Biodegradable SMPsBIODEGRADABLE ELASTIC HYDROGELS FOR TISSUE EXPANDER APPLICATIONIntroductionSynthesis of Elastic HydrogelsPhysical Properties of Elastic HydrogelsApplications of Elastic HydrogelsElastic Hydrogels for Tissue Expander ApplicationsBIODEGRADABLE DENDRIMERS AND DENDRITIC POLYMERSIntroductionChallenges for Designing Biodegradable DendrimersDesign of Self-Immolative Biodegradable DendrimersBiological Implications of Biodegradable DendrimersFuture Perspectives of Biodegradable DendrimersConcluding RemarksANALYTICAL METHODS FOR MONITORING BIODEGRADATION PROCESSES OF ENVIRONMENTALLY DEGRADABLE POLYMERSIntroductionSome BackgroundDefining BiodegradabilityMechanisms of Polymer DegradationMeasuring Biodegradation of PolymersConclusionsMODELING AND SIMULATION OF MICROBIAL DEPOLYMERIZATION PROCESSES OF XENOBIOTIC POLYMERSIntroductionAnalysis of Exogeneous DepolymerizationMaterials and MethodsAnalysis of Endogenous DepolymerizationDiscussionREGENERATIVE MEDICINE: RECONSTRUCTION OF TRACHEAL AND PHARYNGEAL MUCOSAL DEFECTS IN HEAD AND NECK SURGERYIntroductionRegenerative Medicine for the Reconstruction of the Upper Aerodigestive TractMethods and Novel Therapeutical Options in Head and Neck SurgeryVascularization of Tissue-Engineered ConstructsApplication of Stem Cells in Regenerative MedicineConclusionBIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS AS SCAFFOLDS FOR TISSUE ENGINEERINGIntroductionShort Overview of Regenerative BiologyMinimum Requirements for Tissue EngineeringStructure of ScaffoldsBiodegradable Polymers for Tissue EngineeringSome Examples for Clinical Application of ScaffoldConclusionsDRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMSIntroductionThe Clinical Need for Drug Delivery SystemsPoly(Alpha-Hydroxyl Acids)PolyanhydridesManufacturing RoutesExamples of Biodegradable Polymer Drug Delivery Systems Under DevelopmentConcluding RemarksOXO-BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS: PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVESIntroductionControlled-Lifetime PlasticsThe Abiotic Oxidation of PolyolefinsEnhanced Oxo-Biodegradation of PolyolefinsProcessability and Recovery of Oxo-Biodegradable PolyolefinsConcluding Remarks

“In short, the handbook is a very good reference for getting information about different types of biodegradable polymers with important examples, synthetic procedures, and application areas, specifically for medicine and biomedical applications.”  (Materials Views, 15 July 2014)