Natural Polymers, Biopolymers, Biomaterials, and Their Composites, Blends, and IPNs
Advances in Materials Science Series

Natural Polymers, Biopolymers, Biomaterials, and Their Composites, Blends, and IPNs focuses on the recent advances in natural polymers, biopolymers, biomaterials, and their composites, blends, and IPNs. Biobased polymer blends and composites occupy a unique position in the dynamic world of new biomaterials. The growing need for lubricious coatings and surfaces in medical devices?an outcome of the move from invasive to noninvasive medicines/procedures?is playing a major role in the advancement of biomaterials technology. Natural polymers have attained their cutting-edge technology through various platforms, yet there is a lot of novel information about them that is discussed in the book.

This important work covers topics such as chitosan composites for biomedical applications and wastewater treatment, coal biotechnology, biomedical and related applications of second generation polyamidoamines, silk fibers, PEG hydrogels, bamboo fiber reinforced PE composites, jute/polyester composites, magnetic biofoams, and many other interesting aspects of importance to polymer research today.

Chitosan and Chitosan Derivatives as Chelating Agents. Chitosan Composites for Biomedical Applications: An Overview. Recent Developments in Chitosan-Based Materials Used as Adsorbents in Wastewater Treatment. Maize-Natural Fiber as Reinforcement with Polymers for Structural Applications. Coal Biotechnology: Microbial Depolymerization of Indian Coal. Biomedical and Related Applications of Second Generation Polyamidoamines. Poly-(beta sign)-hydroxybutyrate (PHB): A Biodegradable Polymer of Microbial Origin. Barrier Properties of Biodegradable Bacterial Polyester Films. Silk Fibers and Their Unidirectional Polymer Composites: Fabrication and Properties. Bionanocomposites for Multidimensional Analysis of Brain Cell Communication in Health and Disease. Patterned PEG-Hydrogels to Manipulate Cell Adhesion and Migration. Salix Viminalis as a Source of Nanomaterials and Bioactive Natural Substances. Studies on the Propertis of in-situ Melt Grafted and Pregrafted Polymer as a Compatibilizer in Bamboo Fiber Reinforced PE Composites. Jute/Polyester Composites. Control of the Hyaluronidase Activity Towards Hyaluronan by Formation of Electrostatic Complexes: Fundamentals and Application Relevance. Spider Silk: Production and Biomedical Applications. New Nanocomposite Materials Based on Cellulose Fibers and Other Biopolymers. "Smart" Microgels for Injectable Drug Delivery System. Cross-Linking Chemistry of Type I and Type III Collagen With Anionic Polysaccharides. Influence of the Processing Parameters, Fiber Mixtures and Addictives on the Mechanical Characteristics of Cellulose Fiber Reinforced Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) Composites . Isolation and Characterization of Nanofiber from Kenafbast Fiber for Biocomposite. Bio-Hybrid Nanocomposite Roll-to-Roll Coatings for Fiber-Based Materials and Plastics. Advanced Tissue Engineering of Collagen-Based Materials for Therapeutic Treatment of Injuries to Patients. Pectic Polysaccharides of Fruits: Characterization, Fractional Changes and Industrial Applications. Synthesis and Characterization of Alkyd Resin Microcapsules. Electro-Active Biopolymers and Their Application Potential. Comparative Evaluation of Natural Gum-Based Hydrophilic Matrices for Controlled Release of Tolterodine Tartarate. Environmental Recovery by Magnetic Nanocomposites Based on Castor Oil. Magnetic Biofoams Based on Polyurethane Applied in Oil Spill Cleanup Processes.

Dr. Sabu Thomas is the Director of the School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India. He is also a full professor of polymer science and engineering and the Director of the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of the same university. He is a fellow of many professional bodies. Professor Thomas has authored or co-authored many papers in international peer-reviewed journals in the area of polymer processing. He has organized several international conferences and has more than 420 publications, 11 books and two patents to his credit. He has been involved in a number of books both as author and editor. He is a reviewer to many international journals and has received many awards for his excellent work in polymer processing. His h Index is 42. Professor Thomas is listed as the 5th position in the list of Most Productive Researchers in India, in 2008.

Neethu Ninan is doing joint doctoral research in nanomedicine and tissue engineering at both the University of South Brittany (Lorient, France) and the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India.

Sneha Mohan is doing doctoral research in nanomaterial synthesis and nanotechnology at the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India.

Elizabeth Francis is doing doctoral research in polymer nanocomposites at the School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India.