Authors :
Harman Singh Gill; Anjali Bhagria; Sanjiv Duggal
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 5 - May
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/4knbjba9
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/dh6fkfhd
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26May445
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
A new family of sophisticated materials called as "smart polymers," or "stimuli-responsive polymers," show
notable changes in their chemical or physical characteristics in response to external environmental stimuli. This project
offers a thorough review of smart polymers, starting with an introduction to their basic properties and moving through their
categorisation according to various stimuli. The study examines three main types of stimuli: biological (such as enzymes and
biomolecules), physical (such as temperature, light, and electric or magnetic fields), and chemical (such as pH and ionic
strength). The project goes on to describe the benefits of smart polymers, such as their high sensitivity, biocompatibility,
and potential for targeted and controlled applications, as well as their drawbacks, which include high production costs,
difficult synthesis procedures, and stability issues. The relevance of smart polymers in site-specific and controlled drug
delivery systems, which can greatly enhance treatment outcomes, is highlighted in a thorough explanation of the drug release
mechanism. To further highlight the practical importance of smart polymers, examples of widely utilised smart polymers
are looked at. A review of the various uses of smart polymers in domains like biomedical engineering, medication transport,
tissue engineering, sensors, and environmental systems rounds out the project. All things considered, smart polymers are a
quickly developing topic with enormous potential to transform contemporary science and technology due to their versatile
and adaptable characteristics.
Keywords :
Drug Delivery Systems, Advanced Materials, Biocompatibility, Smart Polymers, Stimuli-Responsive Materials, Chemical, Physical, and Biological Stimuli, 3D Printing, and Polymer Applications.
References :
- Ma Z, Zhang J, Liu L, Zheng H, Dai J, Tang LC, Song P. A highly fire-retardant rigid polyurethane foam capable of fire-warning. Composites Communications. 2022 Jan 1;29:101046.
- Thakkar D, Sehgal R, Narula AK, Deswal D. Smart polymers: key to targeted therapeutic interventions. Chemical Communications. 2025;61(2):192-206.
- Aguilar MR, San Román J. Introduction to smart polymers and their applications. InSmart polymers and their applications 2019 Jan 1 (pp. 1-11). Woodhead Publishing.
- Wiktorowicz S, Tenhu H, Aseyev V. Multi‐stimuli‐responsive Polymers Based on Calix [4] arenes and Dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6‐ethers. Temperature‐Responsive Polymers: Chemistry, Properties and Applications. 2018 Jul 16:145-74.
- Nath N, Chilkoti A. Creating “smart” surfaces using stimuli responsive polymers. Advanced materials. 2002 Sep 3;14(17):1243-7.
- Schattling P, Jochum FD, Theato P. Multi-stimuli responsive polymers–the all-in-one talents. Polymer Chemistry. 2014;5(1):25-36.
- Peppas NA, Bures P, Leobandung WS, Ichikawa H. Hydrogels in pharmaceutical formulations. European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics. 2000 Jul 3;50(1):27-46.
- Han D, Lu Z, Chester SA, Lee H. Micro 3D printing of a temperature-responsive hydrogel using projection micro-stereolithography. Scientific reports. 2018 Jan 31;8(1):1963.
- Koide H, Yamaguchi K, Sato K, Aoshima M, Kanata S, Yonezawa S, Asai T. Engineering temperature-responsive polymer nanoparticles that load and release paclitaxel, a low-molecular-weight anticancer drug. ACS omega. 2023 Dec 27;9(1):1011-9.
- Pan P, Svirskis D, Rees SW, Barker D, Waterhouse GI, Wu Z. Photosensitive drug delivery systems for cancer therapy: Mechanisms and applications. Journal of Controlled Release. 2021 Oct 10;338:446-61.
- Mertz D, Sandre O, Begin-Colin S. Drug releasing nanoplatforms activated by alternating magnetic fields. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-General Subjects. 2017 Jun 1;1861(6):1617-41.
- Kost J, Noecker R, Kunica E, Langer R. Magnetically controlled release systems: effect of polymer composition. Journal of biomedical materials research. 1985 Oct;19(8):935-40.
- Sun X, Liu D, Xu X, Shen Y, Huang Y, Zeng Z, Xia M, Zhao C. NIR-triggered thermo-responsive biodegradable hydrogel with combination of photothermal and thermodynamic therapy for hypoxic tumor. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2020 Nov 1;15(6):713-27.
- Gan S, Wu Y, Zhang X, Zheng Z, Zhang M, Long L, Liao J, Chen W. Recent advances in hydrogel-based phototherapy for tumor treatment. Gels. 2023 Apr 1;9(4):286.
- Fu H, Xue K, Zhang Y, Xiao M, Wu K, Shi L, Zhu C. Thermoresponsive hydrogel‐enabled thermostatic photothermal therapy for enhanced healing of bacteria‐infected wounds. Advanced Science. 2023 Apr;10(11):2206865.
- Saleh TA, Fadillah G, Ciptawati E. Smart advanced responsive materials, synthesis methods and classifications: from Lab to applications. Journal of Polymer Research. 2021 Jun;28(6):197.
- Niskanen J, Tenhu H. How to manipulate the upper critical solution temperature (UCST)?. Polymer Chemistry. 2017;8(1):220-32.
- Zelzer M, Ulijn RV. Enzyme-responsive polymers: properties, synthesis and applications. InSmart polymers and their applications 2014 Jan 1 (pp. 166-203). Woodhead Publishing.
- Qureshi D, Nayak SK, Maji S, Anis A, Kim D, Pal K. Environment sensitive hydrogels for drug delivery applications. European Polymer Journal. 2019 Nov 1;120:109220.
- James HP, John R, Alex A, Anoop K. Smart polymers for the controlled delivery of drugs–a concise overview. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B. 2014 Apr 1;4(2):120-7.
- Sarwan T, Kumar P, Choonara YE, Pillay V. Hybrid thermo-responsive polymer systems and their biomedical applications. Frontiers in Materials. 2020 Mar 31;7:73.
- Cui J, Del Campo A. Photo-responsive polymers: properties, synthesis and applications. InSmart polymers and their applications 2014 Jan 1 (pp. 93-133). Woodhead Publishing.
- Guan WL, Adam KM, Qiu M, Zhang YM, Yao H, Wei TB, Lin Q. Research progress of redox-responsive supramolecular gel. Supramolecular Chemistry. 2020 Nov 1;32(11):578-96.
- Xu Q, He C, Xiao C, Chen X. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsive polymers for biomedical applications. Macromolecular bioscience. 2016 May;16(5):635-46.
- Manouras T, Vamvakaki M. Field responsive materials: photo-, electro-, magnetic-and ultrasound-sensitive polymers. Polymer Chemistry. 2017;8(1):74-96.
- Buwalda SJ, Boere KW, Dijkstra PJ, Feijen J, Vermonden T, Hennink WE. Hydrogels in a historical perspective: From simple networks to smart materials. Journal of controlled release. 2014 Sep 28;190:254-73.
- Galaev IY, Mattiasson B. ‘Smart’polymers and what they could do in biotechnology and medicine. Trends in biotechnology. 1999 Aug 1;17(8):335-40.
- Mura S, Nicolas J, Couvreur P. Stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for drug delivery. Nature materials. 2013 Nov;12(11):991-1003.
- Friess W. Collagen–biomaterial for drug delivery. European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics. 1998 Mar 1;45(2):113-36.
- Pieper JS, Hafmans T, Van Wachem PB, Van Luyn MJ, Brouwer LA, Veerkamp JH, Van Kuppevelt TH. Loading of collagen‐heparan sulfate matrices with bFGF promotes angiogenesis and tissue generation in rats. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: An Official Journal of The Society for Biomaterials, The Japanese Society for Biomaterials, and The Australian Society for Biomaterials and the Korean Society for Biomaterials. 2002 Nov;62(2):185-94.
- Lynn AK, Yannas IV, Bonfield W. Antigenicity and immunogenicity of collagen. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials: An Official Journal of The Society for Biomaterials, The Japanese Society for Biomaterials, and The Australian Society for Biomaterials and the Korean Society for Biomaterials. 2004 Nov 15;71(2):343-54.
- Tabata Y, Ikada Y. Protein release from gelatin matrices. Advanced drug delivery reviews. 1998 May 4;31(3):287-301.
- Suzuki S, Matsuda K, Isshiki N, Tamada Y, Ikada Y. Experimental study of a newly developed bilayer artificial skin. Biomaterials. 1990 Jul 1;11(5):356-60.
- Peralta-Videa JR, Zhao L, Lopez-Moreno ML, de la Rosa G, Hong J, Gardea-Torresdey JL. Nanomaterials and the environment: a review for the biennium 2008–2010. Journal of hazardous materials. 2011 Feb 15;186(1):1-5.
- Wechselberger G, Russell RC, Neumeister MW, Schoeller T, Piza-Katzer H, Rainer C. Successful transplantation of three tissue-engineered cell types using capsule induction technique and fibrin glue as a delivery vehicle. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 2002 Jul 1;110(1):123-9.
- Elango J, Zamora-Ledezma C, Negrete-Bolagay D, Aza PN, Gómez-López VM, López-González I, Belén Hernández A, De Val JE, Wu W. Retinol-loaded poly (vinyl alcohol)-based hydrogels as suitable biomaterials with antimicrobial properties for the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022 Dec 9;23(24):15623.
- Li X, Yang X, Wang Z, Liu Y, Guo J, Zhu Y, Shao J, Li J, Wang L, Wang K. Antibacterial, antioxidant and biocompatible nanosized quercetin-PVA xerogel films for wound dressing. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 2022 Jan 1;209:112175.
- Rajora AD, Bal T. Evaluation of cashew gum-polyvinyl alcohol (CG-PVA) electrospun nanofiber mat for scarless wound healing in a murine model. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2023 Jun 15;240:124417.
- Fahami A, Fathi M. Development of cress seed mucilage/PVA nanofibers as a novel carrier for vitamin A delivery. Food Hydrocolloids. 2018 Aug 1;81:31-8.
- Kohli N, Sharma V, Brown SJ, García-Gareta E. Synthetic polymers for skin biomaterials. InBiomaterials for skin repair and regeneration 2019 Jan 1 (pp. 125-149). Woodhead Publishing.
- Dardik H, Dardik I, Laufman H. Clinical use of polyglycolic acid polymer as a new absorbable synthetic suture. The American Journal of Surgery. 1971 Jun 1;121(6):656-60.
- Zahid S, Khalid H, Ikram F, Iqbal H, Samie M, Shahzadi L, Shah AT, Yar M, Chaudhry AA, Awan SJ, Khan AF. Bi-layered α-tocopherol acetate loaded membranes for potential wound healing and skin regeneration. Materials Science and Engineering: C. 2019 Aug 1;101:438-47.
- Iga C, Agata T, Marcin Ł, Natalia F, Justyna KL. Ciprofloxacin-modified degradable hybrid polyurethane-polylactide porous scaffolds developed for potential use as an antibacterial scaffold for regeneration of skin. Polymers. 2020 Jan 9;12(1):171.
- Shahbazi M, Jäger H. Current status in the utilization of biobased polymers for 3D printing process: a systematic review of the materials, processes, and challenges. ACS Applied Bio Materials. 2020 Dec 22;4(1):325-69.
- Shahrubudin N, Lee TC, Ramlan RJ. An overview on 3D printing technology: Technological, materials, and applications. Procedia manufacturing. 2019 Jan 1;35:1286-96.
- Gopinathan J, Noh I. Recent trends in bioinks for 3D printing. Biomaterials research. 2018 Apr 6;22(1):11.
- Nulwala H, Mirjafari A, Zhou X. Ionic liquids and poly (ionic liquid) s for 3D printing–A focused mini-review. European polymer journal. 2018 Nov 1;108:390-8.
- Zhou LY, Fu J, He Y. A review of 3D printing technologies for soft polymer materials. Advanced Functional Materials. 2020 Jul;30(28):2000187.
- Gonzalez G, Roppolo I, Pirri CF, Chiappone A. Current and emerging trends in polymeric 3D printed microfluidic devices. Additive Manufacturing. 2022 Jul 1;55:102867.
- Choong YY, Maleksaeedi S, Eng H, Yu S, Wei J, Su PC. High speed 4D printing of shape memory polymers with nanosilica. Applied Materials Today. 2020 Mar 1;18:100515.
- Xu X, Awad A, Robles-Martinez P, Gaisford S, Goyanes A, Basit AW. Vat photopolymerization 3D printing for advanced drug delivery and medical device applications. Journal of Controlled Release. 2021 Jan 10;329:743-57.
- Park S, Shou W, Makatura L, Matusik W, Fu KK. 3D printing of polymer composites: Materials, processes, and applications. Matter. 2022 Jan 5;5(1):43-76.
- Meléndez-Ortiz HI, Varca GH, Lugão AB, Bucio E. Smart polymers and coatings obtained by ionizing radiation: synthesis and biomedical applications. Open J. Polym. Chem. 2015 Aug;5(3):17-33.
- Li Y, Gao J, Zhang C, Cao Z, Cheng D, Liu J, Shuai X. Stimuli-responsive polymeric nanocarriers for efficient gene delivery. Polymeric Gene Delivery Systems. 2017 Feb 13:167-215.
- Jensen KD, Nori A, Tijerina M, Kopečková P, Kopeček J. Cytoplasmic delivery and nuclear targeting of synthetic macromolecules. Journal of controlled release. 2003 Feb 21;87(1-3):89-105.
- Hamidi M, Shahbazi MA, Rostamizadeh K. Copolymers: efficient carriers for intelligent nanoparticulate drug targeting and gene therapy. Macromolecular bioscience. 2012 Feb;12(2):144-64.
- Prajapati DG, Kandasubramanian B. Progress in the development of intrinsically conducting polymer composites as biosensors. Macromolecular chemistry and physics. 2019 May;220(10):1800561.
- Zamani FG, Moulahoum H, Ak M, Demirkol DO, Timur S. Current trends in the development of conducting polymers-based biosensors. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry. 2019 Sep 1;118:264-76.
- Fattah-Alhosseini A, Chaharmahali R, Alizad S, Kaseem M, Dikici B. A review of smart polymeric materials: Recent developments and prospects for medicine applications. Hybrid Advances. 2024 Apr 1;5:100178.
- Zhu J, Zhou H, Gerhard EM, Zhang S, Rodríguez FI, Pan T, Yang H, Lin Y, Yang J, Cheng H. Smart bioadhesives for wound healing and closure. Bioactive Materials. 2023 Jan 1;19:360-75.
- Zhang X, Jiang Y, Han L, Lu X. Biodegradable polymer hydrogel‐based tissue adhesives: A review. Biosurface and Biotribology. 2021 Dec;7(4):163-79.
- Kim TY, Lee GH, Mun J, Cheong S, Choi I, Kim H, Hahn SK. Smart contact lens systems for ocular drug delivery and therapy. Advanced drug delivery reviews. 2023 May 1;196:114817.
- Zhang YS, Liu XJ, Chu YZ, Chen PW, Yeh YC, Ni YF, Yeh MY. Composite hydrogel modified with gelatin-imidazole: a conductive and adhesive hydrogel. ACS Applied Electronic Materials. 2023 Oct 17;5(11):6114-23.
- Silva-López MS, Alcántara-Quintana LE. The era of biomaterials: smart implants?. ACS Applied Bio Materials. 2023 Jul 12;6(8):2982-94.
- Sun M, Gao M, Bi J, Zhao Y, Gong J. Highly efficient hydrogel encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs via an organic solvent-free process based on oiling-out crystallization and a mechanism study. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 2024 Mar 12;12(12):4813-24.
- Cheng Y, Zhu M, Chi M, Lai Y, Li B, Qian R, Chen Z, Zhao G. MXene/TPU hybrid fabrics enable smart wound management and thermoresponsive drug delivery. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 2024 Apr 10;16(16):20105-18.
- Gugumus F. The use of accelerated tests in the evaluation of antioxidants and light stabilizers. InDevelopments in Polymer Stabilisation—8 1987 (pp. 239-289). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
- Al-Malaika S, Golovoy A, Wilkie CA, editors. Chemistry and technology of polymer additives. Oxford, UK:: Blackwell Science; 1999.
- Mascia L, Kouparitsas Y, Nocita D, Bao X. Antiplasticization of polymer materials: Structural aspects and effects on mechanical and diffusion-controlled properties. Polymers. 2020 Apr 1;12(4):769.
- Carlsson LA, Adams DF, Pipes RB. Experimental characterization of advanced composite materials. CRC press; 2014 Mar 5.
- Roulin-Moloney AC. Fractography and failure mechanisms of polymers and composites. (No Title). 1989 Jun 6.
- Fukuda Y, Miyamae K, Sasanuma Y. Computational design of polymers: poly (ester amide) and polyurethane. RSC advances. 2017;7(61):38387-98.
- Kurowiak J, Klekiel T, Będziński R. Biodegradable polymers in biomedical applications: a review—developments, perspectives and future challenges. International journal of molecular sciences. 2023 Nov 29;24(23):16952.
A new family of sophisticated materials called as "smart polymers," or "stimuli-responsive polymers," show
notable changes in their chemical or physical characteristics in response to external environmental stimuli. This project
offers a thorough review of smart polymers, starting with an introduction to their basic properties and moving through their
categorisation according to various stimuli. The study examines three main types of stimuli: biological (such as enzymes and
biomolecules), physical (such as temperature, light, and electric or magnetic fields), and chemical (such as pH and ionic
strength). The project goes on to describe the benefits of smart polymers, such as their high sensitivity, biocompatibility,
and potential for targeted and controlled applications, as well as their drawbacks, which include high production costs,
difficult synthesis procedures, and stability issues. The relevance of smart polymers in site-specific and controlled drug
delivery systems, which can greatly enhance treatment outcomes, is highlighted in a thorough explanation of the drug release
mechanism. To further highlight the practical importance of smart polymers, examples of widely utilised smart polymers
are looked at. A review of the various uses of smart polymers in domains like biomedical engineering, medication transport,
tissue engineering, sensors, and environmental systems rounds out the project. All things considered, smart polymers are a
quickly developing topic with enormous potential to transform contemporary science and technology due to their versatile
and adaptable characteristics.
Keywords :
Drug Delivery Systems, Advanced Materials, Biocompatibility, Smart Polymers, Stimuli-Responsive Materials, Chemical, Physical, and Biological Stimuli, 3D Printing, and Polymer Applications.