ABSTRACT
Smart polymers or stimuli-responsive polymers are the new generation of polymers; they have the ability to modify their chemical and physical structure as the result of changes in their environment. Linear smart polymers will change from monophasic to biphasic in order to produce the reversible sol-gel hydrogels and crosslinked polymers will change their structure so that the network changes from a collapsed structure to an expanded structure. In addition, multi-stimuli-responsive materials are another path to gaining the most benefits from the combination of smart polymers, and by finding the appropriate copolymerization or crosslinking; smart polymers can be used for specific applications in biomedical applications. The future of smart polymers is very promising and Smart materials with their unique characteristics and responses will be helpful in various applications such as detecting and treating cancer, in biosensors, tissue engineering, detecting radioactive radiation, automotive.
