ABSTRACT
I. FDA-Approved Biodegradable Polymers........................................................................ 455
A. Poly(glycolic Acid) .................................................................................................. 455
B. Poly(lactic Acid) ...................................................................................................... 455
C. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic Acid)................................................................................... 456
D. Other Biodegradable and Native Polymers ............................................................. 456
II. Growth Factors and Bone Regeneration.......................................................................... 459
A. Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ................................................................................. 459
B. Insulin-Like Growth Factors.................................................................................... 460
C. Transforming Growth Factors.................................................................................. 460
D. Fibroblast Growth Factors ....................................................................................... 461
E. Platelet-Derived Growth Factors ............................................................................. 463
III. Growth Factor Encapsulation .......................................................................................... 463
IV. Conclusions ...................................................................................................................... 464
Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................ 465
References..................................................................................................................................... 465
Biodegradable polyesters have made a significant impact in medicine during the last century.
Particularly, the usefulness of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), and
copolymers thereof, has been demonstrated in myriad clinical applications. Their structures are
depicted in Figure 30.1. These polymers are degraded hydrolytically and enzymatically, resulting in
a breakdown of the polymer chain.
