Shape memory polymers (SMPs) possess unique stiffness- and
shape-changing functionality that is beginning to be applied both to
study bone mechanobiology and to address limitations associated with
current bone repair techniques. This chapter introduces SMPs and
discusses their potential to be used as in vitro platforms for the study of
bone cell mechanobiology, osteogenic differentiation, and bone model
systems, and to be applied as in vivo scaffolds that can fi ll space, enable
minimally invasive delivery, enable rapid load bearing, and self-anchor.
A poly(ε-caprolactone)-based SMP scaffold is used to demonstrate the
feasibility and application of the concepts discussed.