Synthetic polymers from renewable feedstocks: an alternative to fossil-based materials in biomedical applications

Polymers and more specifically, polyesters have gained a significant position within biomedical applications, mainly owing to their well-controlled biodegradability. They play a prominent role within nanomedicine in improving
the safety and efficacy of therapeutic agents. In recent years, polymers obtained from renewable resources have attracted much attention as a sustainable alternative considering the depletion of fossil fuels, concerns related to the
environment (emission of greenhouse gasses) as well as government policies. Renewable resources can be defined as ‘any vegetable or animal species that is utilized without jeopardizing its survival and is renewed by biological (shortterm)
instead of geochemical (very long-term) processes’ [1]. Consequently, today’s research and development in polymer-based drug delivery is mainly focused on utilizing polymers derived from renewable resources. Therefore, in this commentary, we will shed light on the status of renewable polymers in drug delivery applications and their ability to replace fossil-based polymers.