ABSTRACT
Biopolymers are well-known examples for the renewable source-based environmental benign polymeric materials (Smith 2005). Biopolymers include polysaccharides such as cellulose, starch, alginate, and chitin/chitosan; carbohydrate polymers produced by bacteria and fungi (Chandra and Rustgi 1998); and animal protein-based biopolymers such as wool, silk, gelatin, and collagen. Naturally derived polymers have offered the interesting properties of biocompatibility and biodegradability. One of the advantages of the naturally derived polymers is the biological recognition that may positively support cell adhesion and function, but they have poor mechanical properties. Many of them are also limited in supply and can therefore be costly (Johnson et al. 2003).
