Recent developments in stimuli-responsive polymer for emerging applications: A review

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive polymers (SRPs) are among the most significant classes of smart materials (SM), undergoing dynamic changes in response to environmental stimuli such as temperature, pH, and electromagnetic fields. These versatile materials are increasingly critical in domains including drug delivery (DD), tissue engineering (TE), water treatment (WT), and environmental sensing (ES). Recent advancements in SRPs, as reported in the literature, are classified into thermo-, pH-, and multi-responsive categories. Both natural and synthetic varieties are examined, focusing on their properties, behaviors, and mechanisms that enable adaptive functionalities. Special emphasis is placed on their applications in developing more efficient DD systems, innovative solutions for TE, and highly sensitive environmental sensors. The synthesis, functionalities, and integration of SRPs with complex biomedical and technological systems are discussed, highlighting their potential to revolutionize these fields. This review offers comprehensive and critically valuable insights into the use of SRPs in SM applications, paving the way for developing more effective and sustainable responsive technologies.