Biopolymers are endowed with excellent attributes such as biodegradability, biocompatibility and functional versatility, which render them an edge over other polymers. Today, they find broad applications in the biomedical field and pharmaceutical world. Nanotechnology has offered tremendous opportunities to design and tailor-make biopolymers augmenting their applications further. This book presents topical articles on the synthesis and applications of biopolymers, biopolymer nanoparticles and nanocomposites. The book includes chapters on conducting polymers, vegetable oils, chitosan and cellulose based polyurethanes, polymeric hydrogels, biopolymeric nanoparticles and nanocomposites, and their applications as drug carriers and sensors in cancer therapy and others. This book would be useful for students, scholars, and scientists interested in the synthesis, biomedical and pharmaceutical applications of biopolymers and their nanocomposites.

Vegetable Oil Based Polymers and Their Surface Applications presents detailed coverage of principles, preparation methods and novel surface uses of vegetable oil based polymers. This comprehensive, state-of-the-art book follows the journey of vegetable oils from seeds to surfaces in a range of advanced applications. Opening chapters discuss theory, principles and characterization techniques while other sections present concepts on the preparation of different polymer types based on vegetable oil. The final section of the book provides extensive coverage of applications, enabling the preparation of vegetable oil based polymers for a range of products and industries. This is a valuable resource for researchers, scientists, and advanced students in polymer chemistry, surfaces and coatings, natural polymers, materials chemistry, chemical engineering and plastics engineering. In an industrial setting, this book supports R&D professionals, scientists, and engineers interested in developing innovative biobased materials for a range of applications, including automotive and aerospace, packaging, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biomedicine and consumer goods.