Recent progress in studies of biodegradable shape memory polymer alloys

Shape memory polymers have attracted increasing attention from researchers worldwide. Because of their low cost, remarkable recovery, advantageous mechanical and physical properties, and excellent processing performance, there has been rapid development of these materials in recent years. However, the usage of non-renewable petroleum-based chemicals for the synthesis and manufacture of commercial polymers has caused serious environmental pollution, and biodegradable and renewable materials are urgently required for industrial use. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a biodegradable aliphatic polyester, has the advantage of being not only biodegradable but also renewable because the raw material, lactic acid, can be produced by microbial fermentation of biomass. PLA has attracted increasing attention from both academic researchers and technologists because of its potential applications as both a biomedical material and an environmentally friendly polymer. This paper focuses mainly on the development of biodegradable shape memory polymers. The shape memory mechanism, materials selection, and the latest research progress in biodegradable shape memory polymer alloys are also discussed. In addition, we offer suggestions for future studies of PLA-based biodegradable shape memory polymer alloys.