Recently developed applications for natural hydrophilic polymers

Abstract

Natural hydrophilic polymers have been utilized for a variety of applications, ranging from the food industry to the coatings industry. However, recent social needs have demanded rapid progress with regard to medical and environmental applications. Natural hydrophilic polymers have attracted considerable interest due to their physicochemical properties and useful functions. This report explores recent findings made in medical, environmental, and food applications of natural hydrophilic polymers and their modified polymers. Applications of these materials are based on their intrinsic biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. Advances in the chemical modification of natural polymers as well as new source developments are overcoming the physicochemical property limits and high costs of these materials, opening up new opportunities for the development of future applications. (C) 2016 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.