This handbook focuses on biopolymers for both environmental and biomedical applications. It shows recent advances in technology in all areas from chemical synthesis or biosynthesis to end use applications.

Introductory Preface. About the Editors. Part I. Polysaccharides. 1. Hyaluronic Acid: A Natural Biopolymer (Juergen Schiller, Nicola Volpi, Eva Hrabárova, and Ladislav Soltes). 2. Polysaccharide Graft Copolymers  Synthesis, Properties and Applications (B. S. Kaith, Hemant Mittal, Jaspreet Kaur Bhatia, and Susheel Kalia). 3. Natural Polysaccharides: From Membranes to Active Food Packaging (Keith J. Fahnestock, Marjorie S. Austero, and Caroline L. Schauer). 4. Starch as Source of Polymeric Materials (Antonio A. J. Carvalho). 5. Grafted Polysaccharides: Smart Materials of Future, Synthesis and Applications (Gautam Sen, Ashoke Sharon, and Sagar Pal). 6. Chitosan: The Marine based Biopolymer for Applications (Debasish Sahoo, and P. L. Nayak). Part II. Bioplastics and Biocomposites. 7. Biopolymers Based-on Carboxylic Acids Derived from Renewable Resources (Sushil Kumar, Nikhil Prakash, and Dipaloy Datta). 8. Characteristics and Applications of PLA (Sandra Domenek, Cecile Courgneau, and Violette Ducruet). 9. Biobased Composites & Applications (Smita Mohanty, and Sanjay K. Nayak). Part III. Miscellaneous Biopolymers. 10. Cassia Seed Gums: A Renewable Reservoir for Synthesizing High Performance Materials for Water Remediation (Vandana Singh, and Pramendra Kumar). 11. Bacterial Polymers: Resources, Synthesis and Applications (GVN Rathna, and Sutapa Gosh). 12. Gum Arabica: A Natural Biopolymer (A. Sarkar). 13. Gluten: A Natural Biopolymer (S. Georgiev, and Tereza Dekova). 14. Natural Rubber: Production, Properties, and Applications (Thomas Kurian, and N. M. Mathew). 15. Electronic Structures and Conduction Properties of Biopolymers (Mohsineen Wazir, Vinita Arora, and A. K. Bakhshi). Part IV. Biopolymers for Specific Applications. 16. Applications of Biopolymers in Agriculture with Special Reference to Role of Plant Derived Biopolymers in Crop Protection (S. Niranjan Raj, S. N. Lavanya, J, Sudisha, and H. Shekar Shetty). 17. Modified Cellulose Fibers as a Biosorbent for the Organic Pollutants (Sami Boufi, and Sabrine Alila). 18. Polymers and Biopolymers in Pharmaceutical Technology (István Erös). 19. Biopolymers Employed in Drug Delivery (Betina Giehl Zanetti Ramos). 20. Natural Polymeric Vectors in Gene Therapy (Patit P. Kundu, and Kishor Sarkar).

The most comprehensive and up-to-date volume covering biopolymers and their biomedical and environmental applications. Biopolymers: Biomedical and Environmental Applications comprehensively and uniquely covers almost all the topics related to polysaccharides, biofibers, bioplastics, biocomposites, natural rubber, proteins, gums, bacterial polymers and their applications in various fields with an emphasis on biomedicine and the environment. It shows recent advances in technology in all areas from chemical synthesis or biosynthesis to end-use applications including biopolymers for chemical and biotechnological modifications, material structures, characterization, processing, properties, and their applications. The book is divided into four parts: Part 1 is devoted to natural polysaccharides. These are renewable, nontoxic and biodegradable and are on a par with and sometimes superior to synthetic materials. Part 2 covers bioplastics and biocomposites which will help in solving the environmental problems connected with petroleum-based plastic waste and its disposal. Part 3 covers different biopolymers such as gums, proteins, natural rubber and bacterial polymers and some of their applications. Part 4 includes applications of various biopolymers such as seed coating to protect against biotic stress, biosorbent for the organic pollutant, pharmaceutical technology, drug delivery, and gene therapy. The volume will prove to be a very useful tool for scientists, academics, research scholars, polymer engineers and those in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, environmental, medical, packaging, and chemical engineering industries.