Bone and Joint Institute
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Journal
Israel Journal of Chemistry
Volume
60
Issue
1-2
First Page
75
Last Page
85
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1002/ijch.201900075
Abstract
© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim Since Staudinger's recognition that polymers were long chain molecules with covalent bonds between repeating units, the field has evolved tremendously. In addition to their many structural roles, polymers have been developed to exhibit “smart” stimuli-responsive behavior. This article will describe the evolution of selected classes of smart polymers including those responsive to changes in pH, temperature, light, and mechanical stimuli, as well as self-immolative polymers and their application in drug delivery, sensors, and actuators. It will also highlight key advancements in polymer chemistry that enabled rapid progress over the past ∼20 years. Whether the key achievements were predictable will be discussed, and the extent to which polymer science remains an independent science versus a service tool will be addressed. Finally, some possibilities for the evolution of the field over the next 20–30 years will be described.
Notes
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: E. R. Gillies, Reflections on the Evolution of Smart Polymers, Isr. J. Chem. 2020, 60, 75., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/ijch.201900075 in the Israel Journal of Chemistry. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.