Solvent depression of transition temperature to selectively stimulate actuation of shape memory polymer foams
申请人:Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
公开号:US10548608B2
公开(公告)日:2020-02-04
An embodiment of the invention is a shape memory polymer (SMP) foam designed to recover its original shape through exposure to a solvent. Thermo-responsive SMPs are polymers designed to maintain a programmed secondary shape until heated above their transition temperature, upon which the polymer recovers its original, or primary, shape. The thermo-responsive SMP foam is programmed to its secondary shape prior to use, typically compression of the foam to a small volume, and remains in this programmed shape until exposed to a selected solvent such as dimethyl sulfoxide or ethyl alcohol. Upon exposure to the solvent, the transition temperature of the SMP foam decreases below the temperature of the environment and the SMP foam actuates to its primary shape. The SMP foam is tailored to actuate upon exposure to specific solvents while minimizing or preventing actuation when exposed to water or other solvents. This selective solvent actuation can be used to increase working time of a SMP foam device, that is, the time allowed for use of a device without undesired actuation, while maintaining functional SMP actuation. Solvent actuated SMP foams can be used in various applications including, but not limited to, treatment of aneurysms and arterio-venous malformations, tissue engineering, and wound healing.
本发明的一个实施方案是一种形状记忆聚合物(SMP)泡沫,其设计目的是通过暴露于溶剂中恢复其原始形状。热响应式 SMP 是一种聚合物,其设计目的是在加热到高于其转变温度之前保持编程的次要形状,然后聚合物恢复其原始形状或主要形状。热响应式 SMP 泡沫在使用前被设定为二次形状,通常是将泡沫压缩到很小的体积,并保持这种设定的形状,直到暴露在选定的溶剂(如二甲亚砜或乙醇)中。接触溶剂后,SMP 泡沫的转变温度会降低到环境温度以下,SMP 泡沫会恢复到其主要形状。SMP 泡沫经过定制,在接触特定溶剂时会起动,而在接触水或其他溶剂时,则会尽量减少或阻止起动。这种选择性溶剂致动可用于延长 SMP 泡沫装置的工作时间,即在保持功能性 SMP 致动的同时,延长装置的使用时间,而不会出现不期望的致动。溶剂致动 SMP 泡沫可用于各种应用,包括但不限于动脉瘤和动静脉畸形的治疗、组织工程和伤口愈合。