Shape-memory polymers as stimuli-sensitive implant materials

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.