For the past two decades, the fast-growing interest in synthetic absorbable polymers has lured most authors to focus on this family of polymers while practically ignoring biodegradable materials of natural origin. Revival of interest in natural polymers by contemporary investigators compelled the editors of this volume to develop it in a form that provides integrated accounts of most of the recent developments not only in synthetic absorbable polymers but also in biodegradable polymers of natural origin. Hence, the theme of this volume is based on the fact that technology of absorbable/ biodegradable polymers (A/BP) has evolved in two independent areas which need to be treated in an integrated manner because of their common end use in clinical applications