Biodegradable Polymers, 5 cr

Core content

Groups of synthetic and natural biodegradable polymers:

• Properties, origin, polymerization and modification
• Raw materials: composition and availability
• Processing: available methods, limitations
• Degradation: main mechanisms, tailoring the degradation profile, preventing the unintended degradation (due to processing, sterilization, storage etc.)
• Characterization: common methods to monitor the degradation process
• Medical and non-medical applications

Writing summaries of given literature in a small team.

Complementary knowledge

Comparison of similarities and differences between

• synthetic and natural biodegradable polymers
• the most commonly used synthetic polymers, and
• the most commonly used natural polymers.

Practical demonstrations of selected processing and characterization methods. Writing summaries based on given and self-found literature in a small team.

Special knowledge

Deeper understanding on specialties of different biodegradable polymers with specific composition. Writing critical literature review mostly focusing on self-found literature.