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Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture

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Polydopamine coated shape memory polymer: enabling light triggered shape recovery, light controlled shape

Zhen Li¹, Xiaoyong Zhang¹, Shiqi Wang¹

¹The Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology , Department of Chemistry , Tsinghua University , Beijing , 100084 , China . Email: weiyen@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn ;

Chemical Science

|August 30, 2018

Summary

Researchers developed a new method to make shape memory polymers (SMPs) light-responsive after they are made. This polydopamine coating allows for flexible, light-triggered shape changes in SMPs.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Surface Chemistry

Background:

Photo-active shape memory polymers (SMPs) offer potential for light-to-mechanical energy conversion.
Conventional SMPs are primarily thermo-responsive, requiring photo-responsive components during initial synthesis.
Existing methods for photo-activity often limit material design flexibility.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a novel post-synthesis method for imparting photo-activity to existing SMPs.
To utilize mussel-inspired surface chemistry for material functionalization.
To enable light-triggered shape deformation in SMPs without altering their intrinsic properties.

Main Methods:

Application of a polydopamine (PDA) coating to pre-existing SMPs via surface chemistry.
Patterning and erasing of the PDA coating to control photo-response.
Secondary surface modification of the PDA layer for further property optimization.

Main Results:

The PDA-coated SMPs exhibited efficient photo-active performance.
The coating enabled flexible, light-triggered 3-D shape deformation of planar SMP sheets.
The original properties of the SMPs remained unchanged after coating.

Conclusions:

Post-synthesis surface modification offers a viable route to create photo-active SMPs.
Mussel-inspired PDA coating provides an effective and versatile platform for light-triggered shape memory applications.
The developed method allows for tunable surface properties and flexible control over shape deformation.