Polymer is a Greek word made from two words ,poly+mer, meaning poly=many and mer=Units. Polymers are massive units that are made of recurring units known as Monomers. The Monomers are the sole structural unit; the polymer is a macromolecule. They play a crucial role in the human and natural world. These are of two types- Natural Polymers and Synthetic Polymers. The Organic world in which human beings reside is made up of slighter subunits known as Natural polymers. These are made from biotic molecules and atoms. They play an important role in nature. Some natural polymers examples are cellulose, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, etc.

Natural Polymers

Now, let us know more about what are natural polymers?

Natural Polymers are those polymers obtained naturally or are formed either by the regimen of insertion polymerisation or distillation polymerisation. These are the herbal polymers that are obtained from plants and animals. Our body is also made up of natural polymers like proteins, nucleic acids, etc. Natural polymers are also useful for skin repairing and rejuvenation purposes.

Long before synthetic polymers were discovered in chemistry labs, naturally occurring polymers were employed for their chemical qualities. Natural polymers, in general, are polymeric compounds occurring in nature or that can be derived from plants and animals. Natural polymers have an important role in various facets of human life. For example, nucleic acids, proteins, and other natural polymers make up our human body.

Examples of Natural Polymers

Here are some Natural Polymers examples:

1. Starch is a carbohydrate found in various foods such as cereal grains and potatoes. It produces water molecules at the time of its production. Starch is a polymer that is formed of thousands of glucose monomers.

1. Proteins or Polypeptides:  The common example of this would be DNA. The interconnection of amino acids forms proteins. Peptide bonds link these. A large quantity of amino acids units is joined to form peptide bonds.

1. Cellulose: It’s the most common organic compound on earth. Cellulose is composed of glucose. The stems, leaves, and trunks of trees are made from this polymer.

Natural Polymers: Organic and Inorganic

Organic polymers play a vital role in allocating essential structural materials and engaging in crucial life processes. For example, all the plants’ hard parts are made of polymers, including lignin, cellulose, and resins. A polymer that is reserved for sugar molecules is known as cellulose.

There are many Inorganic Polymers found in nature, including diamond and graphite. Graphite is used as a lubricant ,in pencil where the carbon atoms are linked in planes. The carbon atoms are joined in three-dimensional networks to provide hardness in diamonds.

Importance of Natural Polymers

1. Biocompatible and non-toxic: All these natural polymers are carbohydrates in nature and penned of reiterative monosaccharide units. Thus, as compared to synthetic polymers, they are non-toxic.

1. Economic: Natural polymers are cheaper, and also their cost of production is less than synthetic polymers.

1. Biodegradable: Natural polymers are produced by living organisms, so they show no terrible effects on human beings or the environment. In contrast, synthetic polymers are made from chemicals that adversely affect the environment.

1. Easily Available: These polymers are herbal polymers grown in many countries, have no side effects, and are more economical than synthetic polymers. As natural polymers are used in many industries, their production is done in large quantities.

Drawbacks of Natural Polymers

1. Slow Process: As the production rate of natural polymers depends upon the environment and many other factors, the production of these polymers is done at a slow rate.

1. The uncontrolled rate of hydration: The collection of natural material is done in different regions, times, climatic conditions, and species. So the ratio of chemical particles present in a material may vary.

1. Microbial Contamination: The natural polymers are exposed to the external environment during production. So there are higher chances of Microbial contamination.

1. Batch to batch variation: The procedure of synthetic polymer is controlled with fixed quantities of ingredients, whereas various biotic and abiotic factors determine the natural polymer’s production.

Conclusion

Polymers play a crucial role in the environment. In drug manufacturing, the selection of polymers plays an important role. But while selecting the polymers, special care is to be taken concerning their drug compatibility, degradation pattern, and toxicity. Natural polymers have gained a lot more attention due to their usage in maintaining physical health and environmental protection and can provide a huge range of bioactive products.  They also play a vital role in drug delivery. By reviewing this, we can say that natural polymers can be a good alternative to synthetic polymers as natural polymers can conquer many side effects of synthetic polymers.