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The first to use biopolymers (non-fibrous biopolymers) in a technical application were the ancient Egyptians (The Pharaohs), who used gum (later named gum Arabic or Acacia gum) (Figure 2.1) before the second millennium BC [1–3]. The Pharaohs were known to use the Arabian Gum and other plant glue in preparing inks used in writing, to install and fix colors and to prepare papyrus (the material upon which the ancient Egyptians wrote) (Figure 2.2). Papyrus was formed by cutting the stem a tall rushlike plant (Cyperus Papyrus) of the Sedge family, growing in Egypt, Abyssinia, Syria, Sicily, etc.), into thin longitudinal slices, which were gummed together and pressed. Gum Arabic was also used to prepare different treatments used in many therapeutic and protective combinations. The resin was used in the mummification process, which included soft tissue removal, dehydration of the body, embalming, sealing inside and outside with resin, covering with bandages and preserving in an evacuated sealed chamber and in a dry place [4]. Apparently, they recognized that gums and resins protect plants from spoilage and so they invented a gum/resin sealing strategy. They used it in most of the applications where an adhesive was required. Gum Acacia or gum Arabic was also used by the ancient Egyptians as a food. The ancient Indian, Chinese, Greeks, Romans, and many other ancient civilizations have also used the gum and resin in different applications. Biopolymers have unique properties, which made them the best choice in various applications. They are in most cases, biodegradable, bioavailable, biocompatible, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, applicable, diverse, and have many other useful properties [5–14]. They also degrade to safe structures. Most of the biopolymers are produced by plants but some are produced by animals, algae and microbes.

Figure 2.1 Gum Arabic; the first known biopolymer, its name comes from the Arabic merchants who sold it in Europe. It is still sold nowadays in local markets as big colored transparent granules.

Figure 2.2 Acacia tree as drawn and memorized by ancient Egyptian civilization.