Smart biocompatible materials for on-demand drug release and tissue adhesion

Stimuli responsive biomaterials play a major role in many biomedical applications. Despite their great potential, many systems are currently limited by toxicity, mechanical properties and lack of biodegradability. Here we design, a unique system based on star-shaped biocompatible polymers of defined low melting point. This system is tailored to solve issues in drug delivery and in wound healing. When the system is incorporated with gold nanoshells (GNS) and exposed to near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, matrices temporarily disengage, thus allowing efficient on-demand healing and drug release. Alternatively, heat may be supplied by using a glue gun to melt the system and extruding it directly onto wounds, where it solidifies and bond strongly with both edges of the wound. The responsiveness of this system to heat and light, with its tailorable physical and mechanical properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and the capability to incorporate drugs and release them on-demand, are all desirable traits for numerous clinical applications.