Synthesis, preparation, in vitro degradation, and application of novel degradable bioelastomers-A review

Degradable bioelastomers are novel polymer biomaterials mainly applied in soft tissue engineering and drug delivery. Synthetic degradable bioelastomers present four remarkable features: three-dimensional crosslinking network structure similar to that of natural elastins, high flexibility and elasticity capable of providing mechanical stimuli for tissue engineering constructs, matched mechanical properties especially with soft body tissues, and broad biodegradability that can be adjusted directly by crosslink density. In this review, degradable bioelastomers are divided into chemically and physically crosslinked bioelastomers. In view of the influence of crosslinking structures on the properties of bioelastomers, chemically crosslinked bioelastomers are further classified into thermo-cured and photo-cured bioelastomers, and physically crosslinked bioelastomers correspond to thermoplastic bioelastomers. In this contribution, after a discussion on the definition of and design strategies for degradable bioelastomers is delivered, the recent advances in the synthesis, properties (especially the in vitro degradation), and potential biomedical applications of these materials are described. Simultaneously, some insights on degradable bioelastomers have also been illuminated. Degradable bioelastomers are sure to play an increasingly significant role in the future developments of polymer biomaterials. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.