Adopting a broad approach, this volume provides the scientific community with a much-needed overview of developments and scientific findings in stimuli-responsive materials. Its primary focus is on the designing, synthesizing, formulating, and processing of materials that lead to an understanding of the scientific principles governing response driven functions leading to future technologies. The highly experienced and internationally renowned editor has assembled a team of leading scientists from the interdisciplinary areas of: * polymers * biopolymers * biochemistry * biophysics * biomaterials * bioengineering * materials engineering * biotechnology * chemistry * physics * ceramics * metals * and materials science. A combination that guarantees a unique and high-quality handbook.

Adopting a broad approach, this volume provides the scientific community with a much-needed overview of developments and scientific findings in stimuli-responsive materials. Its primary focus is on the designing, synthesizing, formulating, and processing of materials that lead to an understanding of the scientific principles governing response driven functions leading to future technologies. The highly experienced and internationally renowned editor has assembled a team of leading scientists from the interdisciplinary areas of: * polymers * biopolymers * biochemistry * biophysics * biomaterials * bioengineering * materials engineering * biotechnology * chemistry * physics * ceramics * metals * and materials science. A combination that guarantees a unique and high-quality handbook.

The response to the environmental and internal stimuli is one of the basic characteristics of living organisms. Inspired by this natural strategy and fast developing nanotechnology and materials science, currently, stimuli-responsive nanomedicine emerges as an active and important field of nanomedicine. This book offers a fundamental and comprehensive overview of stimuli-responsive nanomedicine, and also compiles and details its recent cutting-edge findings and most impressive achievements in biomedical applications, from a pharmaceutical science perspective, making it the first book in this field. By providing readers a broad and in-depth coverage of endogenous and exogenous stimuli as well as their applicable nanomedicines, this book is valuable for students, researchers, and educators in biomedical sciences or anyone interested in this burgeoning field.

Hydrogels are networks of polymer chains which can produce a colloidal gel containing over 99 per cent water. The superabsorbency and permeability of naturally occurring and synthetic hydrogels give this class of materials an amazing array of uses. These uses range from wound dressings and skin grafts to oxygen-permeable contact lenses to biodegradable delivery systems for drugs or pesticides and scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Biomedical Applications of Hydrogels Handbook provides a comprehensive description of this diverse class of materials, covering both synthesis and properties and a broad range of research and commercial applications. The Handbook is divided into four sections: Stimuli-Sensitive Hydrogels, Hydrogels for Drug Delivery, Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering, and Hydrogels with Unique Properties. Key Features: Provides comprehensive coverage of the basic science and applications of a diverse class of materials Includes both naturally occurring and synthetic hydrogels Edited and written by world leaders in the field.

Smart materials stimulated by chemical or by logical signals hold promise for many applications, including new sensors and actuators for medicine, environmental and process control. In contrast to other books on responsive materials which are restricted to sensing, this volume not only highlights fundamental chemical and physical principles but also focuses on the use of smart materials for applications such as drug delivery, wound healing, cell adhesion, tuneable vesicles, surface control, smart paints and glasses, separations, oil recovery and artificial muscles. In this completely updated and expanded edition, readers are introduced to the area with chapters reflecting the enormous expansion of the field in recent years. Different responsive material systems will be covered including hydrogels, membranes, thin layers, polymer brushes, chemomechanical and imprinted polymers, nanomaterials and silica particles. With contributions from internationally recognised experts, the book will appeal to graduate students and researchers in academia, healthcare and industry interested in functional materials and their applications.

Smart materials stimulated by chemical or biological signals are of interest for their many applications including drug delivery, as well as in new sensors and actuators for environmental monitoring, process and food control, and medicine. In contrast to other books on responsive materials, this volume concentrates on materials which are stimulated by chemical or biological signals. Chemoresponsive Materials introduces the area with chapters covering different responsive material systems including hydrogels, organogels, membranes, thin layers, polymer brushes, chemomechanical and imprinted polymers, nanomaterials, silica particles, as well as carbohydrate- and bio-based systems. Many promising applications are highlighted, with an emphasis on drug delivery, sensors and actuators. With contributions from internationally known experts, the book will appeal to graduate students and researchers in academia, healthcare and industry interested in functional materials and their applications.

Smart Polymers and Their Applications, Second Edition presents an up-to-date resource of information on the synthesis and properties of different types of smart polymers, including temperature, pH, electro, magnetic and photo-responsive polymers, amongst others. It is an ideal introduction to this field, as well as a review of the latest research in this area. Shape memory polymers, smart polymer hydrogels, and self-healing polymer systems are also explored. In addition, a very strong focus on applications of smart polymers is included for tissue engineering, smart polymer nanocarriers for drug delivery, and the use of smart polymers in medical devices. Additionally, the book covers the use of smart polymers for textile applications, packaging, energy storage, optical data storage, environmental protection, and more. This book is an ideal, technical resource for chemists, chemical engineers, materials scientists, mechanical engineers and other professionals in a range of industries. - Includes a significant number of new chapters on smart polymer materials development, as well as new applications development in energy storage, sensors and devices, and environmental protection - Provides a multidisciplinary approach to the development of responsive polymers, approaching the subject by the different types of polymer (e.g. temperature-responsive) and its range of applications

This book reviews the rapidly emerging field of switchable interfaces and its implications for bioelectronics. The authors piece together early breakthroughs and key developments and highlight the future of switchable bioelectronics by focusing on bioelectrochemical processes based on mimicking and controlling biological environments with external stimuli as well as responsive systems for drug delivery. All chapters in the book strive to answer the fundamental question: How do living systems probe and respond to their surroundings? Following on from that, how can one transform these concepts to serve the practical world of bioelectronics? The central obstacle to this vision is the absence of versatile interfaces that are able to control and regulate the means of communication between biological and electronic systems. This book summarizes the overall progress made to date in building such interfaces at the level of individual biomolecules and focuses on the latest efforts to generate device platforms that integrate biointerfaces with electronics. Chapter 1 introduces the general concept of dynamic interfaces for bioelectronics and gives an overview of the importance of materials and systems for switchable bioelectronics, introducing the reader to different biointerfaces. Chapter 2 pieces together different types of stimuli-responsive polymers and applications. Chapter 3 lays special emphasis on stimuli-responsive polymers with tunable release kinetics and describes the importance of polymer design for delivery applications. Chapter 4 reviews the field of conformational switching in nanofibers for gas-sensing applications. Finally, Chapter 5 focuses on molecular imprinting polymers as recognition elements for sensing applications. As informative as it is lucid, this handbook makes an essential resource for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level students in chemistry, as well as researchers in polymer science and electrochemistry, especially those with an interest in responsive polymers and biosensors.

The ability for a material to change properties in response to external stimuli is an attractive feature for numerous applications and as such stimuli responsive materials are gaining attention across many different fields. This book introduces the concepts of stimuli-responsiveness, including the fundamental materials properties required for design. It provides readers with comprehensive scientific principles and developments of stimuli responsive materials, as well as the recent technological advances. Written by a renowned expert in the field, this book is suitable for anyone interested in stimuli responsive materials working in polymers, biochemistry, biotechnology and materials science.

Polymer-Based Advanced Functional Composites for Optoelectronic and Energy Applications explains how polymer-based smart composites and nanocomposites can be prepared and utilized for novel optical, sensor and energy-related applications. The book begins with an introductory section on the fundamentals of smart polymer composites, including structure-property relationships and conjugated polymers. Other sections examine optical applications, including the use of polymer-based smart composites for luminescent solar concentrators, electro-chromic applications, light conversion applications, ultraviolet shielding applications, LED encapsulation applications, sensor applications, including gas-sensing, strain sensing, robotics and tactile sensors, with final sections covering energy-related applications, including energy harvesting, conversion, storage, vibrational energy harvesting, and more. This is an essential guide for researchers, scientists and advanced students in smart polymers and materials, polymer science, composites, nanocomposites, electronics and materials science. It is also a valuable book for scientists, R&D professionals and engineers working with products that could utilize smart polymer composites. - Provides thorough coverage of the latest pioneering research in the field of polymer-based smart composites - Offers an applications-oriented approach, enabling the reader to understand state-of-the-art optical, sensor and energy applications - Includes an in-depth introductory section, covering important aspects such as structure-property relationships and the role of conjugated polymers