SHAPE MEMORY POLYMER SCAFFOLDS WITH TUNABLE TRANSITION TEMPERATURES TO TREAT TISSUE DEFECTS

In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to method of forming a shape memory polymer (SMP) scaffold. In general, the method includes preparing a salt template, preparing a macromer and/or polymer solution having at least one macromer or polymer, preparing a photoinitiator solution having at least one photoinitiator, adding the macromer and/or polymer solution and the photoinitiator solution to the salt template, exposing the salt template to ultraviolet light, removing the salt template, and forming an SMP scaffold. In some embodiments, the at least one macromer or polymer has at least one star configuration. In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to an SMP scaffold having at least one macromer, polymer, or photoinitiator to crosslink a polymer. In some embodiments, the at least one macromer or polymer has a star configuration. The SMP scaffold can be formed via solvent-casting/particulate leaching, electrospinning, additive manufacturing, and combinations thereof.