Synthetic polymers for skin biomaterials

Abstract Therapeutic biomaterials aim to aid the wound healing response or replace the requirement for autologous or donated graft material. Synthetic polymers represent a large subfamily of materials for developing skin biomaterials. Their advantages include biocompatibility, versatility of their chemical structure, and tunability of their mechanical properties and degradation. Some of them (e.g., polyesters) can be biodegradable, and in general, these materials are cost-effective compared to natural polymers. Their main disadvantage is their relatively poor cellular interaction. Therefore, synthetic polymers commonly receive a surface treatment or are combined into a composite material (e.g., with natural polymers) to improve their cellular compatibility. However, research into skin biomaterials solely composed of synthetic polymers continues to be an active area. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the current synthetic polymers used in skin biomaterials. The properties and current state of research for the most commonly used synthetic polymers are discussed and commercially available skin biomaterials made of synthetic polymers are reviewed. The chapter ends with conclusions and future directions on this area of research.