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Updated: Jul 11, 2025
Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold
Published on: October 23, 2015
Shape Memory Polymer Composites: 4D Printing, Smart Structures, and Applications
Shiyu Yan1, Fenghua Zhang1, Lan Luo1
1Centre for Composite Materials and Structures, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), No.2 Yikuang Street, Harbin 150000, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) and their composites (SMPCs) are smart materials that can be stably deformed and then return to their original shape under external stimulation, thus having a memory of their shape. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an advanced technology for fabricating products using a digital software tool. Four-dimensional (4D) printing is a new generation of additive manufacturing technology that combines shape memory materials and 3D printing technology. Currently, 4D-printed SMPs and SMPCs are gaining considerable research attention and are finding use in various fields, including biomedical science. This review introduces SMPs, SMPCs, and 4D printing technologies, highlighting several special 4D-printed structures. It summarizes the recent research progress of 4D-printed SMPs and SMPCs in various fields, with particular emphasis on biomedical applications. Additionally, it presents an overview of the challenges and development prospects of 4D-printed SMPs and SMPCs and provides a preliminary discussion and useful reference for the research and application of 4D-printed SMPs and SMPCs.
