What are stimuli-responsive materials?

Stimuli-responsive polymers or so-called “smart polymers” are macromolecules that are sensitive to certain triggers from the external environment, including temperature, light, electrical or magnetic fields, and chemicals.

What is responsive polymers?

Stimuli-responsive polymers are polymers that respond with noticeable physical or chemical changes in their behaviors with a small change of environmental stimuli variations.

What are smart polymers made from?

SIS polymers can be synthetic [poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and methylmethacrylates polymers] (Figure 1) or natural (alginate, chitosan, and κ-carrageenan 2, 3), or a combination of both [collagen-acrylate and poly(polyethylene glycol-co-peptides)] [1].

What are active smart polymers?

Smart polymers, also known as stimuli-responsive polymers or intelligent materials, appear in highly specialized items, and everyday things. Their uses include sensors and actuators like artificial muscles; production of hydrogels; biodegradable packaging; and in biomedical engineering.

What are smart hydrogels?

Smart hydrogels, or stimuli-responsive hydrogels, are three-dimensional networks composed of crosslinked hydrophilic polymer chains that are able to dramatically change their volume and other properties in response to environmental stimuli such as temperature, pH and certain chemicals.

What is a Bioactuator?

bioactuator (plural bioactuators) A biological actuator, typically powered by a muscle.

What are some examples of smart polymers?

Examples of smart polymers are those that undergo rapid, reversible phase changes in response to small changes in environmental conditions. Ista and Lopez employed poly(N-isopropylacryl-amide) (PNIPAAM), a polymer that is soluble in water below, but insoluble above, 32°C.

Are hydrogels expensive?

Hydrogel Considerations Hydrogel materials are viewed as expensive by some. Additionally, they can be a challenge to sterilize. Because sterilization is so important to prevent infection and contamination, this is especially important for those working in drug delivery and wound care applications.

What are stimuli responsive hydrogels?

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels, which perform structural or mechanical changes response to environmental cues/triggers, are one of the most important subclasses in field of hydrogel, especially for development in biological and robotic applications.