Recent Progress in Shape Memory Polymers for Biomedical Applications

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) as one type of the most important smart materials have attracted increasing attention due to their promising application in the field of biomedicine, textiles, aerospace et al. Following a brief intoduction of the conception and classification of SMPs, this review is focused on the progress of shape memory polymers for biomedical applications. The progress includes the early researches based on thermo-induced SMPs, the improvement of the stimulus, the development of shape recovery ways and the expansion of the applications in biomedical field. In addition, future perspectives of SMPs in the field of biomedicine are also discussed.