Sequence-Rearranged Cocrystalline Polymer Network with Shape Reconfigurability and Tunable Switching Temperature

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are crucial for smart materials, but tuning their switching temperature (Tsw) is challenging.
• Current methods for Tsw modification often involve complex synthesis or processing steps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple and effective strategy for creating SMPs with tunable Tsw and enhanced reconfigurability.
• To explore the use of cocrystalline polyesters as a reversible phase in SMP networks.

Main Methods:

• Prepared cocrystallizable copolyesters via transesterification of mixed polyester diols.
• Created SMP networks by photo-cross-linking the synthesized copolyesters.
• Investigated the effect of cocrystallization on the melting point and crystallinity of the SMPs.

Main Results:

• Achieved tunable Tsw and good shape fixing/recovery at body temperature due to cocrystallization.
• Demonstrated excellent shape reconfigurability owing to the dynamic nature of transesterification.
• Successfully processed SMPs into complex shapes.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method offers a facile route to SMPs with controllable Tsw and superior reconfigurability.
• These body-temperature-actuating SMPs hold significant promise for advanced biomedical device applications.