Biomaterials can either be derived from nature or be synthe-
sized in the laboratory via a variety of chemical approaches includ-
ing metallic components, polymers, ceramics or composite
materials. Much attention is being paid to the preparation and
application of bio-based polymers because of environmental con-
cerns [1–3]. Bio-based polymers are defined here as any polymer
derived from living organisms such as plants, trees and algae, while
biopolymers here refer to any polymer applicable for biomaterials,
though bio-based polymers and biopolymers are used equivalently
elsewhere [4–7]. Due to their universal availability, inherent biode-
gradability and low price, vegetable oils have become an area of
intensive interest for both academic and industrial research as
platform chemicals for polymeric materials. Particular attention
has been paid to investigating the suitability of vegetable-oil-based
polymers (VOBPs) as future biomaterials [8–10]. Vegetable oils
from both plants (such as soy, palm, linseed and sunflower oils)
and animals (such as fish oils) are valuable resources for the prep-
aration of a variety of polymers [11–20]. Compared to other bio-
based biopolymers such as carbohydrates and proteins, VOBPs
have several characteristics that make them more attractive as
biomaterials:
(1) Although vegetable oils are not naturally present as poly-
mers, they are precursors for monomer chains that can be
used to synthesize various polymers including polyurethane,
polyester, polyether and polyolefin. Therefore, the VOBP
structures can be easily tuned by converting vegetable oil
to different monomers.
(2) Vegetable oils are suitable for synthesis of hydrophobic
polymers and complement nicely other bioresources like
carbohydrates and protein that are naturally hydrophilic.
(3) Vegetable oils are suitable for producing monomers with
structures similar to petroleum-based monomers. Therefore,
petroleum-based biopolymers are possibly substituted by
VOBP with identical desired properties.