Phosphorus and Silicon-Based Macromolecules as Degradable Biomedical Polymers.

Synthetic polymers are indispensable in biomedical applications because they can be fabricated with consistent and reproducible properties, facile scalability, and customizable functionality to perform diverse tasks. However, currently available synthetic polymers have limitations, most notably when timely biodegradation is required. Despite there being, in principle, an entire periodic table to choose from, with the obvious exception of silicones, nearly all known synthetic polymers are combinations of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in the main chain. Expanding this to main-group heteroatoms can open the way to novel material properties. Herein we report on research to incorporate the chemically versatile and abundant silicon and phosphorus into polymers to induce cleavability into the polymer main chain. Less stable polymers, which degrade in a timely manner in mild biological environments, have considerable potential in biomedical applications. Herein we describe the basic chemistry behind these materials and highlight some recent studies into their medical applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.