Recent advancements in the synthesis of degradable polymers and their pathways

Synthesis of degradable synthetic polymers has been the focus of substantial research throughout the intervening decades due to their potential in biomedical, environmental, and industrial applications. Although these materials offer several advantages, challenges such as the acidification of the microenvironment during degradation and high production costs remain as issues. To address this, polymers made from renewable resources are gaining considerable attention. This review highlights recent advancements in degradable synthetic polymers beyond polylactides, with a focus on emerging classes including thioesters, poly(ester amides), and polyacetals. Novel synthetic strategies such as living and controlled polymerization, radical ring-opening polymerization, and polymerization-induced self-assembly are discussed, facilitating the synthesis of polymers with the ability to tailor polymer structure, degradation rate, and functional group incorporation. Furthermore, recent progress in the application of these polymers in drug delivery, tissue engineering, medical implants, and packaging is also mentioned. Hence, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the progress in degradable polymer design and synthesis over the past decade, focusing on their importance in developing sustainable and functional materials.