TY  - JOUR
A1  - Saatchi, Mersa
A1  - Behl, Marc
A1  - Nöchel, Ulrich
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
T1  - Copolymer Networks From Oligo(epsilon-caprolactone) and n-Butyl Acrylate Enable a Reversible Bidirectional Shape-Memory Effect at Human Body Temperature
JF  - Macromolecular rapid communications
N2  - Exploiting the tremendous potential of the recently discovered reversible bidirectional shape-memory effect (rbSME) for biomedical applications requires switching temperatures in the physiological range. The recent strategy is based on the reduction of the melting temperature range (T-m) of the actuating oligo(epsilon-caprolactone) (OCL) domains in copolymer networks from OCL and n-butyl acrylate (BA), where the reversible effect can be adjusted to the human body temperature. In addition, it is investigated whether an rbSME in the temperature range close or even above T-m,T-offset (end of the melting transition) can be obtained. Two series of networks having mixtures of OCLs reveal broad T(m)s from 2 degrees C to 50 degrees C and from -10 degrees C to 37 degrees C, respectively. In cyclic, thermomechanical experiments the rbSME can be tailored to display pronounced actuation in a temperature interval between 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C. In this way, the application spectrum of the rbSME can be extended to biomedical applications.
KW  - body temperature
KW  - broad melting temperature range
KW  - orientational memory
KW  - reversible bidirectional shape-memory polymer
KW  - copolymer networks
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.201400729
SN  - 1022-1336
SN  - 1521-3927
VL  - 36
IS  - 10
SP  - 880
EP  - 884
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  -