Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 28, 2015
Computational Analysis of Biodegradable Polyester Materials for Biomedical Applications: Investigating Molecular
Aeneas Jerron Velu1,2, Pathmathas Thirunavukkarasu1, Talal Rahman2
1Clean Energy Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Jaffna, Jaffna 40000, Sri Lanka.
Abstract:
Biopolymers have gained significant importance in the field of biomedicine, particularly in addressing organ and tissue loss in living organisms. These polymers exhibit temporary functionality during treatment and undergo biodegradation once their intended purpose is fulfilled. The diverse characteristics of these biopolymers expand their range of applications, albeit necessitating extensive experimentation and a time commitment for thorough investigation. Computational models have emerged as a promising avenue for predictive analysis, complementing traditional experimental methods. In this study, we delve into the degradation dynamics of polyester materials with a specific emphasis on the hydrolysis process. We employed an appropriate reaction diffusion model to unveil the underlying mechanisms governing material weight loss and erosion within a two-dimensional framework for a rectangular slice of the implant. By bridging computational modeling with empirical research, this study provides valuable insights into the behavior of biopolymers, contributing to a deeper understanding of these materials and their potential for advanced biomedical applications. To illustrate this framework's effectiveness, we conducted a case study using experimental data from the literature, focusing on poly(d,l-lactic acid) material.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the...
Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution
Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight
The number average molecular weight (Mn) is the summation of the number...
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
Polymer Classification: Architecture
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which the addition of water breaks down a polymer into its simpler monomer units. For example, peptides break into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and DNA into nucleotides. Enzymes often facilitate these processes.
Hydrolysis Reverses Dehydration Synthesis
Complex carbohydrates can be broken down by breaking the bonds between individual sugar units. The reaction breaks a glycosidic bond as water is added to the compound. The...

