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Multifunctional temperature‐responsive polymers as advanced biomaterials and beyond
Author(s) -
Frazar E. Molly,
Shah Rishabh A.,
Dziubla Thomas D.,
Hilt J. Zach
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.48770
Subject(s) - nanotechnology , materials science , biocompatible material , drug delivery , lower critical solution temperature , poly(n isopropylacrylamide) , nanomaterials , nanocomposite , polymer , copolymer , biomedical engineering , engineering , composite material
ABSTRACT The versatility and applicability of thermoresponsive polymeric systems have led to great interest and a multitude of publications. Of particular significance, multifunctional poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) systems based on PNIPAAm copolymerized with various functional comonomers or based on PNIPAAm combined with nanomaterials exhibiting unique properties. These multifunctional PNIPAAm systems have revolutionized several biomedical fields such as controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering, self‐healing materials, and beyond (e.g., environmental treatment applications). Here, we review these multifunctional PNIPAAm‐based systems with various cofunctionalities, as well as highlight their unique applications. For instance, addition of hydrophilic or hydrophobic comonomers can allow for polymer lower critical solution temperature modification, which is especially helpful for physiological applications. Natural comonomers with desirable functionalities have also drawn significant attention as pressure surmounts to develop greener, more sustainable materials. Typically, these systems also tend to be more biocompatible and biodegradable and can be advantageous for use in biopharmaceutical and environmental applications. PNIPAAm‐based polymeric nanocomposites are reviewed as well, where incorporation of inorganic or carbon nanomaterials creates synergistic systems that tend to be more robust and widely applicable than the individual components. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137 , 48770.