Angewandte Chemie International Edition · 2005 · 237 citations · 20 references
Natural SciencesBiomedical EngineeringMaterials ScienceBiomaterialsPolymer ChemistryPolymer EngineeringBiodegradable BiomaterialsBiodegradable PolymersImplantable Biomedical DevicesPolymer NetworksPolymeric BiomaterialsThermoplastic PolymersBiodegradable ImplantsBiomedical ApplicationsDegradable PlasticsPolymeric ImplantsReversible Polymer NetworksShape-memory Polymer NetworksShape-memory PolymersThermoplastic Biopolymers
In great shape: Star-shaped telechelic oligomers can be coupled with a junction unit to yield amorphous copolyester-urethane networks, which are not only biodegradable but can also be fixed in a new, temporary shape after they have been processed into a permanent shape. The permanent shape can be recovered by heating (see picture). Such polymer networks may find application in ophthalmology.
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