Biomedical applications of thermally activated shape memory polymers

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are smart materials that can remember a primary shape and can return to this primary shape from a deformed secondary shape when given an appropriate stimulus. This property allows them to be delivered in a compact form via minimally invasive surgeries in humans, and depl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of materials chemistry 2010-01, Vol.20 (18), p.3356-3366
Main Authors: Small, 4th, Ward, Singhal, Pooja, Wilson, Thomas S, Maitland, Duncan J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activated
Biocompatibility
Biomedical materials
Human
Polymers
Shape memory
Smart materials
Surgeries
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Summary:Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are smart materials that can remember a primary shape and can return to this primary shape from a deformed secondary shape when given an appropriate stimulus. This property allows them to be delivered in a compact form via minimally invasive surgeries in humans, and deployed to achieve complex final shapes. Here we review the various biomedical applications of SMPs and the challenges they face with respect to actuation and biocompatibility. While shape memory behavior has been demonstrated with heat, light and chemical environment, here we focus our discussion on thermally stimulated SMPs.
ISSN:0959-9428
1364-5501
DOI:10.1039/b923717h