Polyester-based polymers represent excellent candidates in synthetic biodegradable and bioabsorbable materials for medical applications owing to their tailorable properties. The use of synthetic polyesters as biomaterials offers a unique control of morphology, mechanical properties and degradation profile through monomer selection, polymer composition (i.e. copolymer vs. homopolymer, stereocomplexation etc.) and molecular weight. Within this review, the synthetic routes, degradation modes and application of aliphatic polyester- and polycarbonate-based biomaterials are discussed.

Mucoadhesion is defined as the adherence of a synthetic or natural polymer to a mucosal membrane via physical or chemical interactions. Mucoadhesive materials are widely used to develop dosage forms for transmucosal drug delivery via ocular, nasal, esophageal, oral, vaginal, rectal, and intravesical routes of administration. This review will discuss some of the most prominent and recent synthetic methodologies employed to modify polymeric materials in order to enhance their mucoadhesive properties. This includes chemical conjugation of polymers with molecules bearing thiol‐, catechol‐, boronate‐, acrylate‐, methacrylate‐, maleimide‐, and N‐hydroxy(sulfo)succinimide ester‐ groups.

Novel class of mucoadhesive polymers has been developed via polymerisation of 2,5-dimethylfuran-protected 3-maleimidoethyl butylacrylate in the presence of presynthesised poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) nanogel scaffolds. The resulting maleimide-bearing nanogels were capable of forming covalent linkages with mucosal membranes.