Polyurethane Immobilization of Cells and Biomolecules: Medical and Environmental Applications

Polyurethane is a material especially suited for immobilizing cells, given its unique properties with applications ranging from environmental remediation to medical devices. While immobilization is well known among environmental engineers, specifically for enzymes, it is less well known among medical researchers.

Motivated to fill this need and directed towards biotechnologists working in environmental and medical research, Polyurethane Immobilization of Cells and Biomolecules: Medical and Environmental Applications describes research on the use of polyurethane as an immobilizing agent for cells and active molecules. After an introductory chapter on chemistry, the bulk of the book divides into two sections medical applications and environmental remediation. They are juxtaposed to create cross–fertilization, meaning a medical researcher can benefit from applications taught in the environmental section and visa–versa.

As a valuable resource for applied biotechnologists in different industries, this book offers readers key benefits including:

          Little or no jargon in a multidisciplinary and lucid writing style

          The extrapolation of current technology into advanced areas, especially environmental remediation and medical devices

          A bridge between immobilization research and practical applications

Timothy Thomson, MS, is Director of Main Street Technologies. He was the founder and Chief Technical Officer of Hydrophilix, Inc., a technology–based firm specializing in the development of advanced medical devices, environmental remediation technologies and consumer products. Mr. Thomson is known for his expertise in the development of products based on hydrophilic polyurethane (HPUR), and his current research includes the application of polyurethane composites to developing scaffolds for cell growth. He wrote 3 books on the subject, holds 7 patents in synthetic chemistry and process control, and has sponsored several seminars on the medical applications of specialty polyurethanes.