Tanmay Mehta,
Anil Bhattad,
Anup Patil,
- Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to Be University), Karad, Maharashtra, India
- Professor, Department of Medicine, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to Be University), Karad, Maharashtra, India
- Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Krishna Institute of Pharmacy, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to Be University), Karad, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
Thermo-responsive polymer blends have become a key new class of biomaterials for the minimally invasive medical procedure. They offer precision, flexibility and greater patient safety. These smart materials undergo a change of physical/ mechanical properties relative to temperature difference in the body, limiting tissue trauma and increasing effectiveness of the procedure. Their adjustable sol–gel behavior, shape-memory effects, and reversible volume change provide an opportunity for their precise delivery through catheters, needles, or endoscopes, followed by their solidification or expansion, contraction, or conformance to anatomy at body temperature. Recent advances in polymer chemistry and nanotechnology and molecular engineering have increased their clinical use. Today, thermo-responsive blends are the topic of research in the fields of embolization, local drug delivery, tissue sealing, stent deployment, hemostasis, adhesion prevention and regenerative scaffolding. By using a combination of hydrogels (to be biocompatible), elastomers (to be flexible) and crystalline polymers (to have a structural memory), clinicians will be able to create transition temperatures, mechanical properties and degradation rates in materials. These systems also allow dynamic response in the body to support real-time adaptability in endovascular and laparoscopic processes. The addition of imaging agents, nanoparticles and bioactive compounds further enhances the function and precision. As healthcare progresses into a rapid, complication-free direction, thermos responsive polymer blends play an important role in safer and more efficient results. This review presents the current progress, design principles, clinical opportunities, and future issues associated with the use of these blends in the minimally invasive procedure.
Keywords: Thermo-responsive polymers, polymer blends, minimally invasive procedures, shape memory materials, smart hydrogels, temperature responsive biomaterials, biomedical polymers, injectable systems.
[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer & Composites (jopc)]
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Journal of Polymer & Composites
| Volume | 14 | |
| Special Issue | 04 | |
| Received | 13/07/2026 | |
| Accepted | 18/08/2026 | |
| Published | 26/08/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 44 Days |