Strategic conceptualization and potential of self-healing polymers in biomedical field

Abstract

Smart polymeric materials and hydrogels derived from acrylate, epoxy resins, etc. mimic the healing ability of natural organisms and biological cells by showing shape memory and tissue regenerative properties wherein, the healing ability in some of the materials is triggered by external stimuli like temperature, pH and light. This article provides an overview of various conceptual strategies and chemical and mechanical interactions involved in the different types of biomimetic self-healing materials to regain the deformed structure by repairing the cracked shape which play important role in contributing to the structural properties and functional recovery. Also, different chemical bonding like π-π interaction, ligand-metal, hydrogen bonding, etc. takes place at the molecular level for replenishing the damaged structure with greater bond strength. The regeneration ability of artificial self-healing polymeric materials not only shows use in material sciences, engineering but also exhibits a wide range of applications in site-specific drug delivery, skin grafting, implantation, dentistry and bone and tissue regeneration to restore injured surfaces with better biocompatibility, healing efficiency and higher tensile strength to serve as a next-generation material for amplifying the use in biomedical field.

Keywords: Drug delivery; Self-healing; Self-repairing; Tissue engineering.