Supramolecular network of poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene oxide) biomaterials with efficient thermo- and moisture-sensitive shape-memory

Abstract

Covalent networks of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) are shape-memory polymers (SMP) widely studied for smart medical devices thanks to their biocompatibility, degradability and efficient thermally triggered shape-memory properties, i.e. high fixity of the temporary shape and high recovery of the permanent shape1. As an answer to the increasingly demanding biomedical field, we aim at providing to such PCL SMP an additional shape transition triggered by the presence of water at constant temperature. For this purpose, a hydrophilic component, namely poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) has been introduced in the PCL network