Publisher's Synopsis
Almost all synthetic materials over time induce some level of inflammation and fibrosis. Therefore, even though the successes of biomaterials science in producing acceptable solutions to the problem of biocompatibility have been remarkable, there remains enormous opportunity for improvement. The goal is the development of intelligent materials that replicate and mimic the ability of tissues and biological materials to adapt and renew. This book describes the synthesis and the analysis of new smart polymeric materials and their practical implications in nanomedicine and biotechnology. It offers a comprehensive overview, gathering recent and innovative research on multiple aspects within the field of smart polymeric materials that offer new perspectives in developing current advanced biotechnologies. The text contains both experimental and theoretical issues that reflect the impact of the materials characteristics in target applications. It deals with recent advances in the design of new polymeric materials for advanced applications but also on the study of their structure-properties relationship in order to move from completely inert, static structures to flexible ones capable to respond to environmental changes.
