Themed collection Stimuli responsive materials for biomedical applications

Mary Beth B. Monroe, N. D. Pradeep Singh, and Yanli Zhao introduce the Journal of Materials Chemistry B themed collection on stimuli responsive materials for biomedical applications.

Dendronization of chitosan with 3-fold dendritic oligoethylene glycols generates stimuli-responsive and biocompatible dendronized chitosans, which form microconfinement to protect guests or modulate reactions. This confinement can be greatly enhanced through the formation of hydrogels.

Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) actuators with complex and multiple actuations becomes a hot topic recently. Here, we summarize efforts made for achieving the goals, and furthermore, propose an outlook for LCP actuators with higher intelligence.

This review focuses on the versatile applications of near-infrared (NIR)-responsive smart carriers in biomedical applications, particularly drug delivery and photothermal chemotherapy.

In situ self-assembly of peptides in living cells regulated by biocompatible stimuli allows for precise creation of well-defined nanostructures and thus offering a versatile strategy for formulation of biomedical agents at pathological lesions.

This review focuses on fluorescence mechanisms for viscosity responsiveness, highlighting some important probes like coumarin, BODIPY, and xanthene as well as the application of these viscosity-sensitive probes for successful diabetes detection.

This review summarizes the design strategies and recent research progress of stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Polysaccharides have found extensive utilization as biomaterials in drug delivery systems owing to their remarkable biocompatibility, simple functionalization, and inherent biological properties.

Acid-degradable polymeric nanoparticles with a high capability of GFP encapsulation demonstrate efficient antibody production in combination with booster injection of free antigens.

Upon contraction, the silk fibroin (SF)-shape-memory polymer (SMP) bilayer produces wrinkles. Results support the potential use of biopolymer wrinkles on active materials in biomedical applications, such as cell mechanobiology or tissue engineering.

Release of BI-4394, a MMP-13 inhibitor, from an enzyme-responsive hydrogel protects cartilage from progressive degeneration in an ACLT rat model.

The minimally designed robot (THANOS) showcases excellent control over both thermo- and magnetic responses. The robot performs various tasks including shaping, locomotion, pick-and-place, and release maneuvers of objects using independent triggers.

This study contributes to advancing the understanding of methylcellulose-based injectable bone substitutes and their underlying mechanisms of gelation and mineralization.

Thermoresponsive shape memory polymers prepared with tunable transition temperatures using star-PCL macromers of varying molecular weights, improving tissue safety for use in applications such as self-fitting bone scaffolds and self-expanding stents.

The combination of polymeric PBCA microbubbles and highly hydrophobic metal phthalocyanines provides bimodal ultrasound/photoacoustic imaging capabilities based on the high encapsulation efficiencies and tunable optical properties of the latter.

A stimuli-responsive, injectable, and in situ-forming hydrogel with synergistic, self-healing, and on-demand drug-delivery and antibacterial properties.

A simple, 1-pot synthesis approach is presented that produces segmented thermoplastic polyurethanes with increased molecular weight and crystallinity, shape memory properties, and the ability to form fibrous scaffolds with high strength.