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The biological and biomedical applications of polymeric materials have increased greatly in the past few years. This book will detail some, but not all, of these recent developments. There would not be enough space in this book to cover, even lightly, all of the major advances that have occurred. Some earlier books and summaries are available by two of this book's Editors (Gebelein & Carraher) and these should be consul ted for additional information. The books are: "Bioactive Polymeric Systems" (Plenum, 1985); "Polymeric Materials In Medication" (Plenum, 1985); "Biological Acti vi ties of Polymers" (American Chemical Society, 1982). Of these three, "Bioacti ve Polymeric Systems" should be the most useful to a person who is new to this field because it only contains review articles written at an introductory level. The present book primarily consists of recent research results and applications, with only a few review or summary articles. Bioactive polymeric materials have existed from the creation of life itself. Many firmly believe that life could not even exist unless poly meric materials are used to form the basic building blocks. Although this assumption can not be rigorously proven, it is a fact that most, if not all, of the major biochemical pathways involve polymeric species, such as the proteins (including enzymes), polysaccharides and nucleic acids.
List of contents
Overview of Synthetic and Modified Natural Bioactive Polymers.- Pesticide-Polymer Research: A Review of 1976-87.- Chitosan and Derivatives as Activators of Plant Cells in Tissues and Seeds.- Biodegradation of Hydroxylated Polymers.- Combined Matrix Concept in Delivery of Bioactive Polypeptides.- Metal-Promoted Hydrolysis of Polymeric Chelating Agents: Chelators on Demand.- Formation of Polymeric Antimicrobial Surfaces From Organo-Functional Silanes.- Development of Polymers with Anti-Infectious Properties.- Synthesis and Characterization of Polymers Having Steroid Sex Hormones As Pendent Moieties.- Novel Approaches and Applications of Steroid Hormone Delivery Via Poly(dimethylsiloxane).- Kinetics of Synthesis and Degradation of the Polymer Derived From Tetrachloroplatinate and Methotrexate.- The Release of 5-Fluorouracil from Polycaprolactone Matrices.- Synthesis of Antitumor Polysaccharides.- Biological Activities of Tin-Containing Saccharides and Polysaccharides.- Nucleic Acid Analogs for High Performance Liquid Chromatography.- Immune Modulating Effects of Poly(ICLC) in Mice, Monkeys and Man.- Effect of Tetramisole and Its Platinum Polyamine on Mice Infected With Encephalomyocarditis-Variant-D Virus.- Influence of Short Chain Phospholipid Spacers on the Properties of Diacetylenic Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers.- Graft Copolymers of Amino Acids Onto Natural and Synthetic Polymers.- Radiation and Photochemical Methods for Synthesizing Novel Bioactive Polymers for Medical Applications.- Surface Treatment of PMMA with Polyvinylpyrrolidone and a Titanium Compound and Its Effect on Blood Compatibility.- Urokinase:AT-III:PGE1:Methyl Dopa Complex Immobilized Albumin-Blended Chitosan Membranes - Antithrombotic and Permeability Properties.- Control of Skin Wound ContractionRate by Critically Insoluble Collagen Matrices.- Contributors.
