Biodegradable, elastic shape-memory polymers for potential biomedical applications.
The introduction of biodegradable implant materials as well as minimally invasive surgical procedures in medicine has substantially improved health care within the past few decades. This report describes a group of degradable thermoplastic polymers that are able to change their shape after an increase in temperature. Their shape-memory capability enables bulky implants to be placed in the body through small incisions or to perform complex mechanical deformations automatically. A smart degradable suture was created to illustrate the potential of these shape-memory thermoplastics in biomedical applications.
Lendlein
Andreas
A
mnemoScience GmbH, Pauwelsstrabetae 19, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. a.lendlein@mnemoscience.de
Langer
Robert
R
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D004146:Dioxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D020724:Elastomers; D017953:Isocyanates / Q000737:chemistry; D019563:Mechanics; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D051381:Rats; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013537:Sutures; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
C459089:2,2,4-trimethylhexanediisocyanate; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004146:Dioxanes; D020724:Elastomers; D017953:Isocyanates; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C016240:polycaprolactone; C079733:poly-4-dioxan-2-one