Smart hydrogel with shape memory for biomedical applications

The hydrogel with shape memory was synthesized and investigated for possible biomedical science applications. The mechanical and optical properties of the chemically cross-linked shape memory hydrogel prepared from N,N-dimethyl acrylamide (DMAAm) and a crystalline monomer (i.e., stearyl acrylate (SA)) with varying concentrations of DMAAm were studied. The elastic modulus depends on the hydrophobic crystalline components. The refractive index exhibits an inverse relationship with the degree of swelling. Due to the transparency, high refractive index and high mechanical strength, the experimental results indicate the potential for use in biomedical applications.