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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture
Published on: July 4, 2011
Reconfigurable and Reprocessable Thermoset Shape Memory Polymer with Synergetic Triple Dynamic Covalent Bonds
Yongwei Wang1,2, Yi Pan1, Zhaohui Zheng1
1Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Abstract:
Degradable shape memory polymers (SMPs), especially for polyurethane-based SMPs, have shown great potential for biomedical applications. How to reasonably fabricate SMPs with the ideal combination of degradability, shape reconfigurability, and reprocessability is a critical issue and remains a challenge for medical disposable materials. Herein, a shape memory poly(urethane-urea) with synergetic triple dynamic covalent bonds is reported via embedding polycaprolactone unit into poly(urethane-urea) with the hindered urea dynamic bond. The single polymer network is biodegradable, thermadapt, and reprocessable, without sacrificing the outstanding shape memory performance. Such a shape memory network with plasticity and reprocessability is expected to have significant and positive impact on the medical device industry.
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