Shape‐memory polymers as stimuli‐sensitive implant materials

Abstract

Shape‐memory polymers are stimuli‐responsive materials. Upon exposure to an external stimulus, e.g. an increase in temperature, they have the capability of changing their shape. The shape‐memory effect results from the polymer's structure and morphology in combination with a certain processing and programming technology. Stimuli‐sensitive implant materials have a high potential for applications in minimally invasive surgery. A group of biodegradable implant materials with shape‐memory has been developed for applications in biomedicine. These implant materials are not a single polymer but polymer systems that allow the variation of different macroscopic properties over a wide range by only small changes in the chemical structure. In this way, it is possible to implement a variety of different applications with tailor‐made polymers of the same family. Two different types of degradable shape‐memory polymer systems, covalently cross‐linked polymer networks and thermoplastic elastomers, are presented and examples are given for each case.