China Plastics ›› 2011, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (04): 17-21 .DOI: 10.19491/j.issn.1001-9278.2011.04.004

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Biodegradable Shape Memory Polymers and Their Application in Biomedical Engineering

MENG Qianni ZHU Guangming XU Shuogui   

  • Received:2010-11-12 Revised:2010-11-29 Online:2011-04-26 Published:2011-04-26

Abstract: The latest advances in biodegradable shape memory poly(lactide acid), polycaprolactone, and polyurethane were reviewed. The shape memory mechanisms, including phase transforming, physical or chemical cross-linking and phase separation were discussed in briefly. The applications of biodegradable shape memory polymers in drug release, medical instrument, surgery seam, and bone tissue engineering were introduced and discussed. In addition, their trends of development in the future were prospected.

Key words: poly(lactide acid), polycaprolactone, polyurethane, biodegradation, shape memory polymer, biomedical engineering