Temperature-responsive polymers: Synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications

Interest in temperature-responsive polymers has steadily grown over the past several decades, and numerous studies have been dedicated to developing temperature sensitive polymers that can be constructed into new smart materials for biomedical applications. Phase behavior of a temperature-responsive polymer plays a pivotal role in determining its biological performance in certain conditions. In addition to the additives (such as salts and proteins) in aqueous solutions, molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and structural or compositional factors can also significantly affect the transition temperatures of the polymers. This review comprehensively describes well-established and newly developed synthetic strategies for preparing temperature-responsive polymers. The structural and compositional parameters that affect the transition temperatures and self-assembly behavior are discussed. Finally, the biomedical applications of the temperature-responsive polymers in drug delivery, immunotherapy, tissue engineering, and diagnosis are summarized.