Smart Polymers and their Applications

Maria Rosa Aguilar works at the Institute of Polymer Science and Technology (ICTP), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Spain. She is a tenured senior researcher with more than 15 years of expertise in the field of polymer therapeutics and drug targeting. She is co-author of more than 50 peer-reviewed papers and 13 book chapters, and editor of the book ‘Smart Polymers and their applications’. She is also co-inventor of 2 international patents, and founder of the CIBER-BBN Young Scientist Forum Julio San Roman works at the Institute of Polymer Science and Technology (ICTP), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Spain. He is director of the Group of Biomaterials of the Institute of Science and Technology of Polymers, CSIC, Madrid, Spain. His scientific activities are centred in the study and development of polymer systems for biomedical applications, and specifically in Tissue Engineering, Polymer Drugs and Drug Delivery Systems

• Contributor contact details1. Introduction to smart polymers and their applicationsAbstract:1.1 Introduction1.2 Types of smart polymer1.3 Applications of smart polymers1.4 Conclusion1.5 Acknowledgments1.6 ReferencesPart I: Types of smart polymer2. Temperature-responsive polymers: properties, synthesis and applicationsAbstract:2.1 Introduction2.2 Basic principles of temperature-responsive polymers in aqueous solution2.3 Key types of temperature-responsive polymers in aqueous solution2.4 Selected applications of thermoresponsive polymers2.5 Conclusion2.6 Future trends2.7 References3. pH-responsive polymers: properties, synthesis and applicationsAbstract:3.1 Introduction3.2 Key types and properties of pH-responsive polymers3.3 Synthesis of pH-responsive polymers3.4 Different methodologies for the preparation of pH-responsive polymers3.5 Different architectures of pH-responsive polymers3.6 Applications3.7 Conclusion3.8 Future trends3.9 References3.10 Appendix: abbreviations4. Photo-responsive polymers: properties, synthesis and applicationsAbstract:4.1 Introduction4.2 Chromophores and their light-induced molecular response4.3 Key types and properties of photo-responsive polymers4.4 Applications4.5 Conclusions and future trends4.6 References5. Magnetically responsive polymer gels and elastomers: properties, synthesis and applicationsAbstract:5.1 Introduction5.2 Preparation of magnetically responsive polymer gels and elastomeric materials5.3 Magnetic properties of filler-loaded polymers5.4 Elastic behaviour of magnetic gels and elastomers5.5 Kinetics of shape change5.6 The swelling equilibrium under a uniform magnetic field5.7 Polymer gels in a non-uniform electric or magnetic field5.8 Future trends5.9 Acknowledgements5.10 References6. Enzyme-responsive polymers: properties, synthesis and applicationsAbstract:6.1 Introduction6.2 Enzyme-responsive materials: rationale, definition and history6.3 Key types and properties of enzyme-responsive polymers6.4 Preparation of enzyme-responsive polymers6.5 Characterisation of enzyme-responsive polymers6.6 Applications6.7 Conclusion6.8 Future trends6.9 References7. Shape memory polymers: properties, synthesis and applicationsAbstract:7.1 Introduction7.2 Characterizing shape memory effects in polymeric materials7.3 Classifying shape memory polymers: classification by polymer structure7.4 Classifying shape memory polymers: classification by type of stimulus7.5 Main applications of smart polymers7.6 Conclusion7.7 References8. Smart polymer hydrogels: properties, synthesis and applicationsAbstract:8.1 Introduction8.2 Key types and properties of smart polymer hydrogels8.3 Applications of smart polymer hydrogels8.4 Conclusions and future trends8.5 References9. Self-healing polymer systems: properties, synthesis and applicationsAbstract:9.1 Introduction9.2 Types of self-healing9.3 Self-healing and recovery of functionality in materials9.4 Conclusion9.5 Acknowledgements9.6 ReferencesPart II: Applications of smart polymers10. Smart instructive polymer substrates for tissue engineeringAbstract:10.1 Introduction10.2 Instructive polymeric surfaces10.3 Instructive hydrogels with a physicochemical response10.4 Materials with 3D defined patterns10.5 Applications in tissue engineering10.6 Conclusion and future trends10.7 References11. Smart polymer nanocarriers for drug deliveryAbstract:11.1 Introduction11.2 Smart polymeric carriers for drug delivery: pH-responsive nanocarriers11.3 Smart polymeric carriers for drug delivery: enzyme-responsive nanocarriers11.4 Smart polymeric carriers for drug delivery: oxidation-responsive nanocarriers11.5 Smart polymeric carriers for drug delivery: temperature-responsive nanocarriers11.6 Smart polymeric carriers for drug delivery: nanocarriers responsive to other stimuli11.7 Conclusion and future trends11.8 References12. The use of smart polymers in medical devices for minimally invasive surgery, diagnosis and other applicationsAbstract:12.1 Introduction12.2 Types and preparation of smart polymers for medical devices: polymers classified by type of stimulus12.3 Types and preparation of smart polymers for medical devices: polymers classified by structural properties12.4 Applications: medical devices based on shape memory polymers (SMPs)12.5 Applications: SMPs in minimally invasive surgery12.6 Applications: medical devices for cancer diagnosis and therapy12.7 Applications: biosensors for diagnostic medical devices12.8 Applications: biosensors and actuators for enhanced diagnostics and therapy12.9 Applications: microfluidics-based biomedical devices12.10 Conclusion and future trends12.11 References13. Smart polymers for bioseparation and other biotechnological applicationsAbstract:13.1 Introduction13.2 Smart polymers (SPs) for bioseparation: use in affinity precipitation13.3 Aqueous two-phase polymer systems formed by SPs for use in bioseparation13.4 Chromatographic carriers with grafted SPs and adsorbents produced from SPs13.5 Membranes with SP-grafted pores13.6 Use of smart polymers in catalysis13.7 Conclusion and future trends13.8 References14. Smart polymers for textile applicationsAbstract:14.1 Introduction14.2 Types of smart polymers for textile applications14.3 Actuating mechanisms for smart polymers14.4 The use of smart polymer effects in textiles14.5 Using smart polymers in practice: medical textiles14.5 2 Wound dressing products14.6 Conclusion14.7 References15. Biopolymers for food packaging applicationsAbstract:15.1 Introduction15.2 Coatings and active coatings in foods15.3 Micro- and nanoencapsulation in foods15.4 Packaging15.5 Conclusion and future trends15.6 References16. Smart polymers for optical data storageAbstract:16.1 Introduction16.2 Photoinduced molecular motions of azobenzene chromophores16.3 Macromolecular architectures in azopolymers16.4 Synthetic strategies to azopolymers for optical data storage16.5 Photoinduced response of azobenzene polymers16.6 Alternative macromolecular architectures for the design of azopolymers16.7 Conclusion16.8 ReferencesIndex