Summary
In almost every medical field (also in the practice of family doctors, gynaecologists, sexologists and others), biodegradable polymers have been used for many centuries as hygienic and dressing materials, which are important in the process of diagnosis and treatment of patients with various diseases, such as traditionally used cellulose materials.
Natural polymer is a material commonly found in nature products of plant or animal origin; are one of the from the basic building blocks of living organisms.
The most important groups of biopolymers are: polynucleotides, polypeptides (proteins) and polysaccharides. Lipids are also included in the group of biopolymers. Among the many biopolymers found in nature, used in the production of dressing and hygiene materials, cellulose has been used for years (the main plant ingredient, e.g. wood and leaves).
It is worth noting that in the biosphere there is a permanent the process of cellulose biosynthesis in plants and its biodegradation carried out mainly by micro-organisms that produce cellulolytic enzymes. Cellulose is therefore one of the most widespread biopolymers on the globe and is produced in the mainly by higher plants, but also by algae and fungi. It is the main product of the photosynthesis process. Notice that plant residues in the soil contain between 45 and 90% Cellulose. Therefore, in addition to carbon dioxide, it has an important importance for the carbon cycle in the biosphere. Cellulose is therefore important in ecology as a biosphere building blocks and biodegradable material. Thanks to its properties also used in medicine as an ingredient hygiene and dressing materials.