%0 book part
%@ 
%A Sisson, A.L.,Schroeter, M.,Lendlein, A.

%D 2011
%J Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications
%N 
%P 1-21 

%T Polyesters
%U 
 
%X Biomaterials are defined as any materials intended to interface with biological systems to analyse, treat, or replace any tissue, organ, or function of the body. The current trend in biomaterial development is shifted towards the use of biodegradable materials which have definite advantages in the fields of tissue engineering [1], and drug delivery [2]. The general principle is to use a material which achieves a specific therapeutic task and is subsequently, over time, degraded and removed harmlessly from the body. In a growing multi-billion dollar industry, biodegradable polymers are used to fabricate temporary prostheses, meshes and scaffolds for tissue regeneration, medical sutures and staples, and nano- or microscale drug delivery vehicles [3-5].