Abstract

Biodegradable plastics are a promising material to produce several medical devices, such as stents, cardiac valves, and drug delivery systems, among others. This entry focuses on the use of polyhydroxyalkanoates as a biodegradable material. This polymer is produced by plants and bacteria, but the production and composition of the polymer depend upon several factors. The composition of the biopolymer differs within the same material, giving a lot of options in the usage, so it is important to choose the right polyhydroxyalkanoate, depending on the medical device to be developed.