Vegetable oil-derived functional polymers in biomedical applications: hurdles and possibilities

Over the past several years, renewable resource-based polymers have consistently attracted research attention from academia and industry as an alternative to petroleum-based polymers. Depletion of fuel reserves, the rising cost of petroleum products, and strict government regulations drive the search for alternative resources. Vegetable oils have been considered as one of the sustainable feedstocks considering their natural abundance, low cost, and ecological acceptance. Vegetable oils are used to generate various biobased functional polymers like polyester, polyamide, poly(ester amide)s, polyurethane, and photocurable resins. These polymers have demonstrated a wide range of applications, including coating materials, fire retardants, and adhesives, and have also been explored in biomedical research. This review provides a comprehensive discussion on developing various polymers derived from vegetable oils, which show promise in biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, antimicrobial, tissue adhesives, and biosensor applications. Additionally, the review highlights the challenges and future opportunities associated with these sustainably sourced biobased polymers.