Poly(butylene succinate)-based polyesters for biomedical applications: A review

This contribution aims to provide an overview on the use of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and its copolymers in biomedicine, with particular attention to emerging topics, such as controlled drug release and tissue engineering. Indeed, PBS is a well-known aliphatic polyester, given its interesting thermo-mechanical properties and the proven biodegradability, combined with acceptable raw material and production costs. Moreover, the reactants employed in the synthesis can be obtained also from renewable resources, making PBS a fully bio-based and sustainable polymer. Although its commercialisation is mainly devoted to biodegradable packaging, the use of PBS in the biomedical field has recently attracted considerable attention. The synthetic strategies adopted and the solid-state properties, together with data on the biodegradation rate and biocompatibility of this class of polyesters are here reported and compared. Finally, the envisioned applications have been described.