Novel copolyester for a shape-memory biodegradable material in vivo

In this paper, we report the excellent shape-memory behavior of a novel Poly(glycol-glycerol-sebacate) (PGGS) terpolymer network for the first time. The polymer, with its crosslinked, three-dimensional networks acting as fixed phase, while its crystalline phase acting as a reversible one, meets the two necessary conditions to be the material that possesses shape-memory behavior, the response temperature of which is in the neighbourhood of human body temperature. The PGGS terpolymer, with a shape-memory ratio of above 99.5% and a recovery temperature of 37.5 degrees C. shows excellent shape-memory effect and a potential of being used directly in vivo. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.