Responsive Polymers at the Biology/Materials Science Interface

Synthetic polymers can be prepared with features that combine many of the advantageous properties of natural materials, including environmental response. This Research News article considers the different types of response that can be ‘programmed in' to polymers and the applications that are developing as a consequence of the designed responses. In particular, we focus on two key applications at the biology/materials science interface: responsive drug delivery systems and ‘smart' surfaces for cell culture and regenerative medicine. Responsive polymers are increasingly of interest for medical applications owing to their dynamic and potentially biomimetic behavior. In this article two important applications of responsive polymers are considered; drug‐delivery vehicles and surfaces for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (see figure). Highlights of significant recent research are considered and some potential future applications in this exciting field are introduced.