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Related Concept Videos

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers01:28

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers

Synthetic polymers are classified as elastomers, fibers, or plastics based on their crystallinity. Crystallinity, the degree of long-range order in the solid state, influences the mechanical properties (stretching or contracting) of elastomers. Elastomers are flexible polymers that can expand or contract easily upon the application of an external force. They have numerous crosslinks that pull them back into their original shape when stress is removed. Silicones, for instance, are highly elastic...

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Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture
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Mechanochromic Polyurethane Shape Memory Polymer for Biomedical Applications.

Thalma Orado1, Bethany Yashkus2, Richard Chandardat3

  • 1Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA.

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A
|September 22, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed smart polyurethane materials by incorporating spiropyran (SP) molecular switches. These materials change color and shape in response to mechanical stress, enabling new sensor applications.

Keywords:
mechanophorepolyurethaneshape memory polymerspiropyran

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

  • Smart materials with dynamic properties are crucial for developing advanced sensor devices.
  • Molecular switches, like spiropyran, can alter material characteristics in response to external stimuli.
  • Polyurethane (PUR) shape memory polymers (SMPs) offer tunable mechanical and thermal properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To incorporate spiropyran (SP) mechanophores into polyurethane (PUR) shape memory polymers (SMPs).
  • To investigate the mechanochromic behavior and simultaneous shape/color changes in PUR-SP materials.
  • To evaluate the potential of these materials for sensing applications, including bacteria detection.

Main Methods:

  • SP mechanophores were dissolved in PUR solutions with varying hard-to-soft segment ratios.
  • PUR-SP films were fabricated using solvent-casting.
  • Mechanical testing, shape memory analysis, thermal analysis, and cytocompatibility assays were performed.
  • Mechanochromic responses were analyzed via straining, imaging, and fluorescence microscopy.
  • Bacterial protease-responsive PUR SMPs were used to confirm simultaneous shape and color changes in the presence of bacteria.

Main Results:

  • Incorporation of SP into PUR resulted in mechanochromic behavior, with increased fluorescence (up to 56%) upon straining, which reversed upon shape recovery.
  • The mechanochromic response was influenced by PUR's hard-to-soft segment ratio, SP concentration, and strain percentage.
  • Bacteria-responsive PUR-SP materials demonstrated reduced fluorescence and biofilm removal when incubated with Staphylococcus aureus, indicating potential for color-based bacteria detection.

Conclusions:

  • SP-functionalized PUR SMPs exhibit simultaneous shape and color changes in response to mechanical stimuli.
  • These materials show promise as molecular force probes and for color-based detection of bacteria.
  • The developed technology can be expanded to incorporate other stimuli-responsive functionalities for advanced environmental sensing.