1;Preface;6 2;Contents;9 3;1 A Fundamental Approach Toward Polymers and Polymer Composites: Current Trends for Biomedical Applications;11 3.1;Abstract;11 3.2;1 Introduction;11 3.3;2 Polymers;13 3.3.1;2.1 Classification of Polymers;13 3.3.2;2.2 Natural Polymer and Their Composites for Biomedical Applications;13 3.3.2.1;2.2.1 Collagen;13 3.3.2.2;2.2.2 Silk;14 3.3.2.3;2.2.3 Hyaluronic Acid (HA);15 3.3.2.4;2.2.4 Chitosan (CS);16 3.3.2.5;2.2.5 Cellulose;16 3.3.2.6;2.2.6 Alginate;18 3.3.3;2.3 Synthetic Polymers and Their Composites for Biomedical Applications;19 3.3.3.1;2.3.1 Polycaprolactone (PCL);19 3.3.3.2;2.3.2 Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA);20 3.3.3.3;2.3.3 Poly(l-Lactic Acid) (PLLA);21 3.3.3.4;2.3.4 Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic) Acid (PLGA);21 3.3.3.5;2.3.5 Poly(Ethylene Glycol) (PEG);22 3.3.3.6;2.3.6 Polystyrene (PS);23 3.3.3.7;2.3.7 Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF);25 3.3.4;2.4 Gas Permeable Polymeric Membranes for Biomedical Applications;26 3.3.5;2.5 Other Polymeric Composites for Biomedical Applications;28 3.3.6;2.6 Polymer Microarrays for Biomedical Applications;30 3.3.7;2.7 Challenges and Future Prospective;32 3.3.8;2.8 Conclusion;32 3.4;Acknowledgements;32 3.5;References;33 4;2 Synthesis of Bio-based Polymer Composites: Fabrication, Fillers, Properties, and Challenges;39 4.1;Abstract;39 4.2;1 Introduction;39 4.2.1;1.1 Polymer Composites;40 4.2.2;1.2 Bio-based Materials;41 4.3;2 Fabrication/Processing of Bio-based Polymer Composites;41 4.3.1;2.1 Thermoplastic-Based Composites;42 4.3.1.1;2.1.1 Injection Molding;43 4.3.1.2;2.1.2 Extrusion;44 4.3.2;2.2 Thermoset-Based Composites;45 4.3.2.1;2.2.1 Injection Molding;45 4.3.2.2;2.2.2 Compression Molding;45 4.3.2.3;2.2.3 Transfer Molding;46 4.3.3;2.3 Bio-based Composites;47 4.3.3.1;2.3.1 Solvent Casting and Particulate Leaching (SCPL);47 4.3.3.2;2.3.2 Emulsion Freeze Drying;48 4.3.3.3;2.3.3 Electrospinning;49 4.3.3.4;2.3.4 Blow Film Extrusion;50 4.3.3.5;2.3.5 3D Printing;50 4.4;3 Fillers and Reinforcements Used in the Preparation of Bio-based Composites;51 4.4.1;3.1 Bio-based Fillers/Reinforcements with Non-bio-based Polymers;51 4.4.2;3.2 Non-bio-based Fillers/Reinforcements with Bio-based Polymers;53 4.4.3;3.3 Bio-based Filler/Reinforcement and Bio-based Polymer;53 4.5;4 Properties of Bio-based Polymer Composites Used for Biomedical Applications;56 4.6;5 Challenges Encountered in the Design of Novel Bio-based Polymer Composites for Biomedical Applications;58 4.6.1;5.1 Desired Properties for Biomedical Materials;58 4.6.2;5.2 Challenges Faced by Bio-based Materials;59 4.7;6 Conclusion;59 4.8;References;60 5;3 Amorphous and Semicrystalline Thermoplastic Polymer Nanocomposites Applied in Biomedical Engineering;66 5.1;Abstract;66 5.2;1 Introduction;66 5.3;2 Processing of the Amorphous and the Semicrystalline Thermoplastic Nanocomposites;69 5.3.1;2.1 Template Synthesis (Sol-Gel Technology);69 5.3.2;2.2 Intercalation Methods;70 5.3.2.1;2.2.1 Solution Intercalation Method;71 5.3.2.2;2.2.2 In Situ Intercalative Polymerization Method;72 5.3.2.3;2.2.3 Melt Intercalation Method;72 5.4;3 Examples of the Polymers Used in Biomedical Engineering;73 5.4.1;3.1 Amorphous Polymers;73 5.4.1.1;3.1.1 Polycarbonate (PC);73 5.4.1.2;3.1.2 Rubber Nanocomposites;74 5.4.2;3.2 Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU);74 5.4.2.1;3.2.1 Polystyrene (PS);74 5.4.2.2;3.2.2 Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF);75 5.4.3;3.3 Semicrystalline Polymers;75 5.4.3.1;3.3.1 Polyethylene (PE);76 5.4.3.2;3.3.2 Polypropylene (PP);76 5.4.3.3;3.3.3 Polyamide (PA);76 5.4.4;3.4 Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites Types;77 5.4.4.1;3.4.1 Polyurethane-Urea (PUU);78 5.5;4 Nanoscale Reinforcements in the Polymer Nanocomposites;78 5.5.1;4.1 Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs);79 5.5.2;4.2 Graphene;79 5.5.3;4.3 Nanoclays;80 5.6;5 Polymer Nanocomposites in Biomedical Applications;80 5.6.1;5.1 Scaffold Tissue Engineering;82 5.6.2;5.2 Drug Delivery;84 5.6.3;5.3 Dental Implants;85 5.6.4;5.4 Polymer Nanocomposites as Biosensors;86 5.7;6 Conclusions;87 5.8;References;87 6;4 Multi