Recently, biopolymer group of Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials (Changchun institute of applied chemistry, CAS) was invited to write a review article “Biodegradable Synthetic Polymers: Preparation, Functionalization and Biomedical Application” on Progress in Polymer Science. (Prog. Polym. Sci.  2012, 37: 237-280 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S007967001100092X)

Progress in Polymer Science is a leading academic journal in polymer field, with a SCI impact factor of 22.870. It mainly invites leading scientists in the field of polymer research to review the current status and future development of this field, in which it had a remarkable influence. Lately, Professor Chen Xuesi was invited to compose a review article on the research status and the progress in the future of degradable biomedical polymers by the chief editor G. C. Berry and K. Matyjaszewski.

Biodegradable polymers have been widely used and have greatly promoted the development of biomedical fields because of their biocompatibility and biodegradability. The development of biotechnology and medical technology has set higher requirements for biomedical materials. Novel biodegradable polymers with specific properties are in great demand. Biodegradable polymers can be classified as natural or synthetic polymers according to the source. Synthetic biodegradable polymers have found more versatile and diverse biomedical applications owing to their tailorable designs or modifications. This review presents a comprehensive introduction to various types of synthetic biodegradable polymers with reactive groups and bioactive groups, and further describes their structure, preparation procedures and properties. The focus is on advances in the past decade in functionalization and responsive strategies of biodegradable polymers and their biomedical applications. The possible future developments of the materials are also discussed.

A schematic figure of application as scaffold for tissue engineering of biodegradable polymers

The biopolymer group of our institute has carried out the research on biomedical polymers for over 10 years. In recent years, they focused on the functional and intelligent modification strategies of synthetic degradable biomedical polymers. Addition to in-depth exploration of material potential properties, they have made a great contribution to promoting the development of biomedical polymers on exploring its applications and its industrialization. The publication of this review article indicates that the research in the biomedical materials field of our institute has won the highly recognition by counterparts both at home and abroad with significant international influence.

Our research work on biomedical polymer materials was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, The Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jilin Provincial Science & Technology Department, Department and Reform Commission of Jilin Province and Department of Industry and Information Technology of Jilin Province.