Biocompatible shape‐memory poly(vinyl chloride) with a tunable switching temperature via a plasticization effect

Abstract

Biocompatible shape‐memory poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with a tunable switching temperature (Ts) was fabricated via the incorporation of an environmentally friendly plasticizer of 1,2‐cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl (DINCH). It was revealed that both of the shape‐memory effect (SME) and Ts were significantly influenced by the plasticization effect. With the addition of DINCH, the shape‐fixing ratio (Rf) showed a slight reduction, whereas the shape‐recovering ratio (Rr) was greatly enhanced, and Ts was decreased from 90 to 47 °C. PVC with 40 phr plasticizer realized an excellent SME with an Rf of 97.0% and a Rr of 90.1%; this resulted from the formation of an efficient shape‐memory network via the physical crosslinking of the amorphous chains with crystals and rigid chain entanglements. In addition, the blood compatibility of the DINCH‐plasticized PVC was evaluated, and the results indicate that it was of great potential for biomedical applications. Therefore, in this study, we successfully developed a new shape‐memory polymer and provided a promising strategy for achieving SME with tunable Ts. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47992.

Body Temperature-Triggered Shape-Memory Effect via Toughening Sustainable Poly(propylene carbonate) with Thermoplastic Polyurethane: toward Potential Application of Biomedical Stents

“…Limited by the human physiological environment, the switching temperature ( T s ) of shape-memory stents should be around body temperature for realizing body heat-triggering self-expansion or on-demand activation of shape transition. In principle, TSMPs are prepared by fabrication of the two-component structure containing switching and permanent domains. − The switching component (SC) with a reversible thermal transition determines T s and controls the molecular chain movement with the temperature change, realizing fixation and activation of the temporary shape. Besides, the permanent component (PC) composed of either chemical or physical cross-links sets the permanent shape and ensures the recovery efficiency by restraining irreversible chain slippage.…”

Shape memory effects of EVM-GMA/PVC blends

“…The EVM-GMA structure is similar to ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber (EVM), the only difference is that GMA polar groups increase its polarity. Both EVM-GMA and PVC have a certain shape memory performance 16,17 and they have great compatibility in theory due to their polarity. 18,19 PP Lizymol et al [20][21][22] found that PVC/EVA was a thermodynamic compatible system.…”