Question

List the uses of different types of polymers in the medicine industry and surgery.

Answer 1

Hint: Polymer is an organic chemical compound constituting of repeating monomers (a single unit of joined to form a polymer by a specific bond). The word polymer is composed of two Greek words, ‘Polus’> meaning ‘many’ and ‘Meros’ meaning ‘parts’. Polymers can be both synthetic as well as natural based on their source.

Complete step by step solution:
Polymers are used in various ways in surgery and medicine industry. In case of surgery, polymer based derivatives are used in making of artificial replacements like an artificial heart, surgically grafted forelimbs and hind limbs made up of synthetic polymers. Many artificial organs are constructed using 3d printing and surgically grafted into the patients to save their lives. Polymers are often used in the pharmaceutical industries to create a variety of medicines to act according to their specific mechanism of action. Some slow dissolving medicinal drugs are often coated with polymer to ensure the slow release of drugs thus improving the overall efficiency of the medicine. On a broader basis of classification, Polymers as we know today are used in medicine and surgery, or as artificial organs in three different ways:
1) to create completely artificial replacements (or grafts) or aids for human organs
2) to repair and sustain the function of normal or slightly defective organs
3) to provide a biochemical function based on their mechanism of action (in medicines particularly).

Note: The science of polymer use in medicinal purposes is still in its initial stages. With the advancement in science and technology scientists and researchers are trying hard to make polymers more convenient to work on as complete independent organs in the human body in case of failure of any organ.