Polyphosphazenes for Biomedical Applications

This book serves as both an introduction and a practical guide on the synthesis and use of polyphosphazenes, a new and very versatile polymer family which has recently demonstrated bioactivity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. These polymers find uses as potent vaccine adjuvants and microencapsulating agents; biodegradable materials and scaffolds for tissue engineering; biocompatible coatings and carriers for gene delivery, for example. A broad spectrum of application specialists working in chemistry, life scientists, and chemical engineering will appreciate this single-source reference.Brings together, analyzes, and contextualizes the latest findings and practical applications§Polyphosphazenes, an emerging class of polymers, include macromolecules, which have been proven to be biocompatible, biodegradable, and bioactive. Their unprecedented structural diversity and unique properties make them suitable as vaccine adjuvants, microencapsulating agents, biodegradable materials, scaffolds for tissue engineering, biocompatible coatings, and carriers for gene delivery.§Polyphosphazenes for Biomedical Applications offers a thorough review of polyphosphazene research findings in the life sciences, chemistry, and chemical engineering. It emphasizes biomedical applications as well as recent advances in polyphosphazene development such as high-throughput discovery and the latest controlled methods of synthesis. The book brings together, analyzes, and contextualizes a wealth of knowledge that previously could only be found scattered throughout the scientific literature.§Following two introductory chapters, the book reviews:§Vaccine delivery and immunomodulation§Biomaterials§Drug delivery systems§Biodetection§Well-defined polyphosphazenes: synthetic aspects and novel molecular architectures§All the chapters have been written by leading researchers in the field. Editor Alexander Andrianov, who has led the effort to commercialize polyphosphazenes for biomedical applications, has carefully reviewed and edited all chapters to ensure readability, accuracy, and thoroughness.§Polyphosphazenes for Biomedical Applications is not only intended for researchers working in polyphosphazene chemistry, but also for all researchers seeking solutions to problems arising in the areas of biomaterials, drug delivery systems, and controlled release formulations.