[Use of synthetic biodegradable polymers in medicine]

Synthetic biodegradable polymers, such as polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyorthoesters, polycarbonates, polyphosphoesters, polyphosphazenes, polyesteramides, polyalkylenoxalates, polyalkylcyanoacrylates, etc., are represented as materials which are being tested for use, or which have been already used in surgery, orthopaedics, and pharmacy. A particular attention is devoted to their use in the preparation of systems with prolonged release or with targeted biodistribution of active ingredients.