Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Vimentin promotes collective cell migration through collagen networks via increased matrix remodeling and spheroid fluidity.

Communications biology·2026

Same author

Artificial capillaries-on-a-chip with modular control over lumen size, architecture, and co-culture conditions.

Biofabrication·2026

Same author

Shaping soft hydrogels into 3D, multiscale, perfusable models using multimodal printing.

Biofabrication·2026

Same author

Bone Multicellular Unit on a Chip (BMU-Chip) Subjected to Cyclic Mechanical Loading.

ACS biomaterials science & engineering·2026

Same author

Shaping hydrogel bioinks into 3D, multiscale, perfusable models using multimodal printing.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Artificial capillaries-on-a-chip with modular control over lumen size, architecture, in situ modifications and co-culture conditions.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same journal

Performance Evaluation of Highly Uniform Astragalus Polysaccharide/Silk Fibroin Microspheres Fabricated via Microfluidics as Biodegradable Fillers: Collagen Regeneration and Tissue Reaction.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A·2026

Same journal

Combining Supramolecular and Covalent Chemistry to Form Reinforced Fibrillar Network Hydrogels From Fibrinogen Derivatives.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A·2026

Same journal

Bioactive-Loaded Detachable Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid Microneedles: Structural Validation and Clinical Anti-Wrinkle Efficacy.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A·2026

Same journal

Tunable Sol-Gel Transition in Poloxamer Blends for Injectable Osteoarticular Applications.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A·2026

Same journal

Development and Evaluation of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Carboxymethyl Chitosan Hydrocolloid Incorporating Cynodon dactylon Extract and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle for Bedsore Healing in a Wistar Rat Model.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A·2026

Same journal

Engineering Bone-Targeted LNP Delivery of Anti-Sclerostin Antibody mRNA for the Treatment of Osteoporosis.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture

Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture

Published on: July 4, 2011

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

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:

mechanophore polyurethane shape memory polymer spiropyran

More Related Videos

Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold

Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold

Published on: October 23, 2015

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Published on: February 6, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 7, 2026

Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture

Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture

Published on: July 4, 2011

Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold

Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold

Published on: October 23, 2015

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Published on: February 6, 2016

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.