Advanced Polypropylene and Composites with Polypropylene with Applications in Modern Medicine

Abstract

Synthetic polypropylene (PP) is used extensively in many fields of medicine. On the one hand, it is utilized in the manufacture of medical equipment: syringes, storage, transport, electric cables, etc. On the other hand, synthetic, nonabsorbable isotactic PP (iPP) is often used to perform meshes for hernia and pelvic organ repair operations, as well as in urinary incontinence. Products that release in time from meshes are depending on the conditions in which they are utilized, can produce undesirable reactions for the human body. For this reason, nonabsorbable synthetic PP was replaced in surgical sutures and meshes with bio polypropylene (bio PP). The chapter analyzes the specific characteristics of these polymers as well as their degradation due to the influence of different factors: humidity, perspiration, temperature, and presence of bacteria. Obtaining new composite materials with PP as matrix and metal powders as fillers is considered as a possibility of their use in vital problems such as cancer detection and treatment. These allow the emergence of new strategies in the design of biosensors that use nanocomposite materials with different fillers and polymeric films. The chapter analyzes the characteristics of new composite materials with PP matrix and metallic powders of iron (Fe).