Photo-Cross-Linkable Shape-Memory Polymer for Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shape-memory polymers, such as poly(ε-caprolactone), have a high melting point that makes them unsuitable for physiological applications, limiting their clinical ability in treating blood vessels and other medical uses, and require functionalization or synthesis of methacrylates, which is invasive and costly.
Innovation Solution
A photo-cross-linkable shape-memory polymer with a structure represented by Formula 1, where R1, R2, and R3 are hydrogen or alkyl groups, and A, B1, and B2 are oxygen or sulfur, is developed, allowing for a copolymerization of ε-caprolactone and glycidyl methacrylate to adjust the melting point to a range suitable for medical applications, and a method involving simultaneous ring-opening polymerization with a catalyst to reduce synthesis time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If poly(ε-caprolactone) is used as a shape-memory polymer, then biocompatibility and biodegradability are achieved, but the melting point is too high (45-65°C) for physiological applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the polymer by copolymerizing ε-caprolactone with glycidyl methacrylate in specific molar ratios (80:20 to 98:2). This compositional parameter change directly adjusts the melting point from the original 45-65°C range down to 28-45°C, making it suitable for physiological applications while preserving biocompatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copolymer composite material combining ε-caprolactone units with glycidyl methacrylate units. This composite structure integrates the biocompatible properties of PCL with the lower melting point characteristics of GMA segments, achieving a balanced material with melting point 28-45°C that is suitable for medical devices.
2Reliability
If methacrylate functionalization is performed to enable photo-cross-linking, then shape-memory functionality is improved, but the synthesis process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate processes into one: the copolymerization of ε-caprolactone with glycidyl methacrylate simultaneously creates both the shape-memory polymer backbone and incorporates photo-cross-linkable functional groups. This single copolymerization step eliminates the need for subsequent separate functionalization steps, reducing synthesis complexity while achieving both shape-memory functionality and photo-cross-linkability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resulting shape-memory polymer has a melting point of 28 to 45°C, enabling effective deformation recovery and application in medical devices, such as blood vessel supports and stents, with a high deformation recovery rate of 90% or more, suitable for physiological conditions.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the mixture with UV light in the presence of a photoinitiator to polymerize the caprolactone and the glycidyl methacrylate
Implementation Method 2
a shape-memory polymer having a melting point of 28 to 45°C, which is suitable for use in medical devices or materials
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a photo-cross-linkable shape-memory polymer and a preparation method therefor. The shape-memory polymer according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a photo-cross-linkable functional group, and thus a shape-memory polymer having a melting point suitable for a physiological or medical application device can be provided. Particularly, a method for preparing the shape-memory polymer, according to one embodiment of the present invention, uses a catalyst for inducing the simultaneous ring-opening polymerization of two monomers (CL, GMA) during synthesis of the shape-memory polymer, thereby enabling the synthesis time of the shape-memory polymer to be reduced, and shape-memory polymers having various melting points can be readily prepared by controlling the introduction amounts of CL and GMA.