Recent advances in shape memory polymers for biomedical applications: Bridging macro- and micro-scale effects

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are a class of materials capable of undergoing deformation in response to external stimuli, and their unique shape-changing properties offer vast potential for applications in the biomedical field. Based on the dimensionality of the shape memory effect (SME), deformation...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dongqi You, Lining Lin, Minyi Dong, Yunhong Wu, Yijie Hu, Xinyue Hu, Yangjie Shao, Yuan Xie, Menghan Xu, Guancong Chen, Rong Lan, Haiying Ma, Yunting Zhou, Huiming Wang, Binjie Jin, Mengfei Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-08-01
Series:Smart Materials in Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259018342500016X
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are a class of materials capable of undergoing deformation in response to external stimuli, and their unique shape-changing properties offer vast potential for applications in the biomedical field. Based on the dimensionality of the shape memory effect (SME), deformation can be categorized into macroscopic and microscopic levels. Macroscopic deformation enables SMPs to perform functions such as adaptation, filling, and support through overall structural changes. On the other hand, microscopic deformation involves dynamic modulation of the surface morphology of micro- and nanoscale scaffolds, influencing cell morphology and further regulating cell behavior and fate. Whether at the macroscopic or microscopic level, SME significantly enhances the performance of SMPs as tissue scaffolds or medical devices. This review summarizes the progress of SMP applications in the biomedical field, focusing on SME at different dimensional levels, and provides insights into future development directions.
ISSN:2590-1834