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Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture
Published on: July 4, 2011
Biomass Approach toward Robust, Sustainable, Multiple-Shape-Memory Materials
Zhongkai Wang1, Yaqiong Zhang2, Liang Yuan1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States.
Abstract:
We report biomass-derived, shape-memory materials prepared via simple reactions, including "grafting from" ATRP and TAD click chemistry. Although the biomass, including plant oils and cellulose nanocrystals, has heterogeneous chemical structures in nature, these materials exhibit excellent multiple shape-memory properties toward temperature, water, and organic solvents, which are comparable to petroleum counterparts. The work presented herein provides burgeoning opportunities to design the next-generation, low-cost, biomass-prevalent, green materials for niche applications.

