Functional 

The term functional polymer is used a lot nowadays. Here, ‘functional' implicates that the polymer material not only allows a certain construct to be made, but also adds an ‘active' functionality. For instance the guidance of light in a polymer optical fiber, transformations of electricity into light in a polymer LED, or vice versa the transformation of light into electricity by a polymer solar cell. Furthermore, polymers can support the human body to regenerate tissue or can take care of controlled local delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients. These are just a couple of examples illustrating the enormous opportunities polymers can provide. We are just at the beginning of a polymer age often inspired by life.