12.07.2015 Views

4(%3)3 - Ecole nationale supérieure de chimie de Montpellier

4(%3)3 - Ecole nationale supérieure de chimie de Montpellier

4(%3)3 - Ecole nationale supérieure de chimie de Montpellier

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

1. SELF-HEALING POLYMERIC SYSTEMSNature has been instrumental in inspiration for innovations and discoveries for human kind sincethe predawn era. One can find a whole range of materials ranging from the har<strong>de</strong>st knownmaterial to innumerable stimuli-responsive systems. These advance complex biological materials areresult of an evolutionary process which started millions of years ago and still continuing. Of all theremarkable features exhibited by these biological systems, the ability to self-heal or regenerate inresponse to damage caused by an external factor is quite intriguing. Organisms like hydra, starfish canregenerate easily even if a large chunk of their body is cut away. In humans, healing process is selfevi<strong>de</strong>ntwhen a small wound is healed over the course of time. Human liver is able to wholly regenerateitself from as less as 25%, <strong>de</strong>monstrating the level of advancement in nature. In biological systems, thehealing process (Figure – 1.1) follows mainly three stages 1 : an inflammatory response to the injurycharacterized by healing material clotting followed by cell proliferation leading to matrix <strong>de</strong>position andin the end remo<strong>de</strong>ling of the matrix. The last two steps generally slow and may span over several months<strong>de</strong>pending upon the extent of injury.Figure– 1.1: Biological route for healing process 11

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!