1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China;2. Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Beijing 100730, China
Abstract:
The unique features of shape‐memory polymers enables their use in minimally invasive surgical procedures with a compact starting material switching over to a voluminous structure in vivo. In this work, a series of transparent, thermoset (meth)acrylate shape‐memory polymer networks with tailored thermomechanics have been synthesized and evaluated. Fundamental trends were established for the effect of the crosslinker content and crosslinker molecular weight on glass transition temperature, rubbery modulus and shape‐recovery behavior, and the results are intended to help with future shape‐memory device design. The prepared (meth)acrylate networks with high transparency and favorable biocompatibility are presented as a promising shape‐memory ophthalmic biomaterial.
