Shape Memory Polymers for Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Shape-memory polymers (SMP) are a class of mechanically functional “smart” materials that have the ability to change to a shape and revert to their permanent shape on application of external stimulus like (heat, electric, magnetic field, pH, water and light). The versatility of SMPs in responding to specific triggers to achieve complex shape transformations makes them attractive for smart material applications. SMPs are classified according to the underlying mechanism enabling the shape changes in the polymer. The ability of SMPs to memorize the original shape before triggered exposure and after deformation, makes them suitable for several applications in biomedical and advanced pharmaceuticals. This review focuses on the main properties of SMPs, their classification and characterization of SMPs. The broad overview of recent developments on SMPs proves their wide applicability in the field of general medicine, drug delivery, regenerative medicine, dentistry, neuromedicine, cancer therapy, orthodontics, and orthopaedics