Smart Polymers: Stimulus-Responsive Properties and Their Biomedical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer science has expanded its interest toward the development of smart materials capable of stimuli-responsive behavior. These polymers have an ability to detect specific clues (charge, pH, heat, light, ultrasound, magnetic /electric filed, etc.) and accordingly respond by changing their specific physicochemical properties, acting as excellent stimuli-responsive materials in several fields of engineering. Beyond straightforward applications such as electronics and sensors of such polymers, scientists have been exploring stimuli-responsive polymers for a range of other applications, including target drug delivery and advanced tools for regeneration and tissue engineering. A wide range of polymers, including electroactive polymers—poly[3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thiophene] (PEDOT), polypyrrole (PPy), and polyaniline (PANi); piezoelectric polymers—polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), poly-l-lactide (PLLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs); pH-sensitive polymers—chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginic acid, and dextran; and thermosensitive polymers—poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(acrylamide), photosensitive-poly(acrylic acid), polyimide, polyamide, poly(ethyl acrylate), and poly(ethylene oxide), are able to respond to one or more external physical or chemical stimuli. Their applicability in bioscience depends on their processability, mechanical properties, biodegradability and biocompatibility requirements. Advanced formulations are obtained by combining the polymers into designs which are able to respond to many stimuli. Interesting solutions are also modifications of these polymers with piezoelectric, conductive, magnetic nanomaterials in the form of composites, fillers or dopants.

This Special Issue, titled "Smart Polymers: Stimulus-Responsive Properties and their Biomedical Applications", will focus on the synthesis, characterization, applications and processing of these biomaterials. We are also very interested in the safety and life cycle of these polymers and products made out of them.

Scientists are kindly invited to contribute original research articles, review articles and communications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Synthesis, processing and characterization of smart biomaterials;
• Piezoelectric biomaterials;
• Electroactive biomaterials;
• Thermo- and pH-sensitive biomaterials;
• Mechanically sensitive biomaterials;
• Glucose-sensitive biomaterials;
• Photosensitive biomaterials;
• Magnetically sensitive biomaterials.

Dr. Marija Vukomanović
Dr. Marija M. Babić Radić
Guest Editors

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