Universal Strategy for Designing ShapeMemory Hydrogels

D.C.S. Costa*, P.D.C. Costa*, M.C. Gomes, A. Chandrakar, P.A. Wieringa, L. Moroni, J.F. Mano*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Smart polymeric biomaterials have been the focusof many recent biomedical studies, especially those withadaptability to defects and potential to be implanted in thehuman body. Herein we report a versatile and straightforwardmethod to convert non-thermoresponsive hydrogels intothermoresponsive systems with shape memory ability. As aproof of concept, a thermoresponsive polyurethane mesh wasembedded within a methacrylated chitosan (CHTMA), gelatin(GELMA), laminarin (LAMMA) or hyaluronic acid (HAMA)hydrogel network, which afforded hydrogel composites withshape memory ability. With this system, we achieved good toexcellent shapefixity ratios (50-90%) and excellent shaperecovery ratios (similar to 100%, almost instantaneously) at bodytemperature (37 degrees C). Cytocompatibility tests demonstrated good viability either with cells on top or encapsulated duringall shape memory processes. This straightforward approach opens a broad range of possibilities to convey shape memoryproperties to virtually any synthetic or natural-based hydrogel for several biological and nonbiological applications.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)701-706
Number of pages6
JournalACS Materials Letters
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Apr 2022

Keywords

  • SHAPE-MEMORY POLYMERS
  • SCAFFOLDS
  • CHITOSAN

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