Stimuli‐Responsive Polymeric Systems for Biomedical Applications

Abstract Smart polymeric‐based devices and surfaces that reversibly alter their physico‐chemical characteristics in response to their environment are the center of many studies related to the development of materials and concepts in a broad‐range of biomedical fields. Although the initial interests were more focused in systems for the delivery of therapeutic molecules, other applications have been raised in topics ranging from actuators to biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The general aspects of the different types of stimuli that can be used to modulate the response are reviewed mainly for the case of hydrogels and surfaces, based on natural‐origin or biodegradable macromolecules.…