Polyarylsulfones in biomedical engineering

Polyarylsulfones, including polysulfone (PSF), polyethersulfone (PES), and polyphenylsulfone (PPSF), have been extensively adopted in demanding engineering applications and have gained increasing importance in healthcare-related fields due to their excellent thermal stability, chemical resistance, mechanical durability, and long-term dimensional stability. Among these amorphous high-performance engineering thermoplastics, PSF has achieved the broadest clinical acceptance and is widely used in blood-contacting medical devices, such as hemodialysis membranes, extracorporeal circulation components, and artificial-organ systems. Meanwhile, PES and PPSF have emerged as complementary materials, offering enhanced thermal resistance, hydrolytic stability, or toughness under specific service conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the polyarylsulfone family, with particular emphasis on the relationships between molecular structure, synthesis routes, and key physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. Building on these structural-property relationships, the review surveys organ-oriented biomedical applications of polyarylsulfones, including load-bearing orthopedic concepts, cardiovascular and hemodialysis membranes, membrane oxygenators, bioartificial kidney and liver systems, ophthalmic lenses, dental materials, and microencapsulation platforms. Additionally, the review goes beyond biomedical performance to consider emerging sustainability and circular-economy perspectives. It discusses opportunities and challenges related to material recovery, reprocessing, and non-clinical repurposing of polyarylsulfone waste streams, all within the context of environmental responsibility and ESG-driven manufacturing. Collectively, this review highlights polyarylsulfones as a versatile and durable polymer family whose future development lies at the intersection of advanced biomedical engineering and sustainable materials management.