Role of Polymers in biology, biological systems and other fields

A biopolymer is a polymer created by a living organism. Polymers, which are molecules made up of numerous smaller molecules called monomers, make up the majority of biological macromolecules. Typically, all of the monomers in a polymer are the same or highly similar to one another, and they are joined over and over to form the larger macromolecule.

These simple monomers can be joined together in a variety of ways to create complex biological polymers. The roles of macromolecules in living systems as information storage systems (such as DNA) and in biochemical synthesis have been widely investigated and understood, as have the roles of polymers in biological lubrication and their relationship to diseases like osteoarthritis and to remedies like tissue engineering.

Peptides can easily be converted into synthetic polymers, which are being researched for a variety of applications, including the creation of novel biomaterials and drug delivery/imaging.