Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of biodegradable polymers and functionalized esters, particularly in the production of polyesters and polyurethanes with tailored degradation profiles. Its bifunctional structure, featuring both carboxylic acid and hydroxyl groups, enables cross-linking and copolymerization, making it valuable in developing environmentally friendly coatings, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering scaffolds. Also employed in modifying surface properties of biomaterials due to its ability to introduce hydrophilic spacers in molecular architectures.