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Phase‐Change Materials for Controlled Release and Related Applications
Author(s) -
Qiu Jichuan,
Huo Da,
Xia Younan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.202000660
Subject(s) - materials science , nanotechnology , context (archaeology) , phase change , controlled release , phase transition , chemical engineering , engineering physics , engineering , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Phase‐change materials (PCMs) have emerged as a novel class of thermo‐responsive materials for controlled release, where the payloads encapsulated in a solid matrix are released only upon melting the PCM to trigger a solid‐to‐liquid phase transition. Herein, the advances over the past 10 years in utilizing PCMs as a versatile platform for the encapsulation and release of various types of therapeutic agents and biological effectors are highlighted. A brief introduction to PCMs in the context of desired properties for controlled release and related applications is provided. Among the various types of PCMs, a specific focus is placed on fatty acids and fatty alcohols for their natural availability, low toxicity, biodegradability, diversity, high abundance, and low cost. Then, various methods capable of processing PCMs, and their mixtures with payloads, into stable suspensions of colloidal particles, and the different means for triggering the solid‐to‐liquid phase transition are discussed. Finally, a range of applications enabled by the controlled release system based on PCMs are presented together with some perspectives on future directions.