Intelligent materials: Smart polymers

Smart polymers are very sensitive macromolecules which are capable of undergoing rapid and reversible physical changes in the event of slight modifications in their local environment. These responses produce drastic changes in one of the following parameters: shape, surface characteristics, solubility, and formation of an intricate molecular self-assembly or a sol-to-gel transition. These changes are triggered by temperature, pH, light , ionic strength, mechanical stress, the strength of the magnetic or electric field, or the concentration of specific substances. Smart polymers have been utilized in various forms such as hydrogels, micelles, dendrimers, modified interfaces, and conjugated solutions. Smart polymers can provide a variety of applications in numerous fields, such as drug delivery, biotechnology, chromatographic techniques and quantitative analysis, sensors or actuators, smart coating, colloidal systems, imaging technologies, textile and apparel applications, as well as microfluidic technologies.