Nowadays, polymers have become an integral part in the field of biomaterials. The use of polymeric matrices in the field of biomedicine is extensive and reaches from nanomedicine and drug delivery systems to tissue engineering, and medical implants. Especially the past decades, research has shown the tremendous possibilities of finetuning the chemical and physical properties of polymers making polymeric systems highly versatile. Stimuli responsive polymers are able to respond to environmental changes by undergoing conformational changes. This is particularly important for future applications in precision medicine, where the adaptability of biomedical materials is crucial to address complex healthcare challenges. Depending on the desired application, different stimuli responsive units can be incorporated into the polymeric network to obtain the desired function and response of smart polymers.
This thesis of Clio Siebenmorgen focused on the synthesis and design of stimuli-responsive polymers to provide the foundation for the next generation of functional biomedical systems intended for the use in future precision medicine. Specifically, both internal and external stimuli-responsive elements have been incorporated into polymeric networks to achieve the desired functions. For external stimuli, research was conducted on ultrasound-responsive microbubbles stabilized by a polymeric shell, demonstrating significant potential as future ultrasound contrast agent. Additionally, a temperature and magnetic-responsive soft robot was synthesized, showing complex locomotion capabilities. For internal stimuli, pH-responsive systems were explored through the formation of imine-based microstructures. The results presented in this thesis show the tremendous possibilities of designing smart polymers, paving the way to address complex healthcare challenges.
