Progress in biopolymer-based biomaterials and their application in controlled drug delivery

Biopolymer-based materials are based on re-growing resources and are attractive for biomedical applications, as they can inherently combine degradability in vivo, can offer sites of adhesion for cells and proteins, often show good biocompatibility and may additionally be used to release embedded bioactive molecules. However, their selection and efficient use for specific applications require an understanding of molecular principles and relationships between the molecular and macroscopic level to establish distinct properties and functions. Here, synthetic routes are described, which allow tailoring properties and functions of biopolymer-based materials. The biological evaluation of such materials is discussed, with a special emphasis on their application in controlled release systems such as hydrogels and particulate carriers.