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Review
. 2022 Jan 24;23(3):1290.
doi: 10.3390/ijms23031290.

Shape-Memory Polymers Hallmarks and Their Biomedical Applications in the Form of Nanofibers

Silvia Pisani  1 , Ida Genta  2 , Tiziana Modena  2 , Rossella Dorati  2 , Marco Benazzo  1 , Bice Conti  2
Affiliations
Review

Shape-Memory Polymers Hallmarks and Their Biomedical Applications in the Form of Nanofibers

Silvia Pisani et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Shape-Memory Polymers (SMPs) are considered a kind of smart material able to modify size, shape, stiffness and strain in response to different external (heat, electric and magnetic field, water or light) stimuli including the physiologic ones such as pH, body temperature and ions concentration. The ability of SMPs is to memorize their original shape before triggered exposure and after deformation, in the absence of the stimulus, and to recover their original shape without any help. SMPs nanofibers (SMPNs) have been increasingly investigated for biomedical applications due to nanofiber's favorable properties such as high surface area per volume unit, high porosity, small diameter, low density, desirable fiber orientation and nanoarchitecture mimicking native Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM). This review focuses on the main properties of SMPs, their classification and shape-memory effects. Moreover, advantages in the use of SMPNs and different biomedical application fields are reported and discussed.

Keywords: Shape-Memory Polymers (SMPs); biomedical applications; electrospinning; engineered scaffold; shape-memory polymers nanofibers (SMPNs).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SMPs with different shape-memory effect (SME): (a) one-way (OWSME), (b) two-way reversible (TWSME) and (c) multiple-SME.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Photograph series showing reversible bidirectional SMPs (40 mm × 4 mm × 0.4 mm) from PPD-PCL. The bowed shape was obtained after programming by deformation in a helixlike shape at Treset, cooling to Tlow and subsequent heating to Thigh. The SME occurred as reversible shift between shape A (bow) at Thigh and shape B (helix) at Tlow. Image was modified from Behl et al. paper [22].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scheme of different stimuli-induced SMPs.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) Electrospinning NANON-01A; (B) Scheme of vertical electrospinning apparatus composed by syringe needle, high-voltage power supply and collector; (C) working parameters and their influence on fibers properties; the arrow symbol states for increase; the arrow symbol states for decrease.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Engineered shape-memory electrospun scaffolds (E-SMESs). C1 original flat conformation; C2 temporary rolled-up conformation; C1r recovered original flat conformation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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