ABSTRACT
Active materials represent a class of materials that are able to undergo a physical or chemical change upon exposure to a stimulus. ey can be activated by temperature, force, electric current, water, and/ or chemical moieties. In their “active” form, these materials can change shape, apply force, degrade, or interact with biological tissues. Given these unique properties, there is a growing interest in the use of these “smart” materials in biomedical applications as these materials can provide additional novel functions to an implant or device. For example, a shape-memory material can alter its shape, allowing for an implant to be inserted minimally invasively in a compact shape and then activated into a larger form upon implantation to serve its physiological function.
