Micro/Nano Encapsulated Phase Change Materials: Preparation, Principle, and Emerging Advances in Medical Field

Due to the unique thermal absorption and release capabilities, phase-change materials (PCMs) are used in various industrial fields, such as photo-thermal storage and building-energy saving. In recent years, more and more research has been dedicated to applying PCMs to the medical field with substantial progress, opening new avenues for disease treatment and healthcare. The safety and reliability of PCMs may be taken into serious consider for continuous application in the medical field, while the relevant review on the related development is currently lacking. In this work, the methods for enhancing the applicability and reliability of PCMs in the medical field are systematically summarized, including microencapsulation, electrospinning technology, and porous framework encapsulation, which effectively address the issues of liquid leakage. Subsequently, the emerging advances of PCMs in medical healthcare, including medical dressings treatment, drug delivery, cold chain transport, and bio-bone cement are summarized. By exploring and analyzing the encapsulation methods, principles as well as the emerging advances of PCMs in medical field, the challenges and perspectives promoting the applications are identified, presenting the guidelines for further development. This work systematically summarizes the encapsulation methods for enhancing the applicability and reliability of phase change materials (PCMs) from the perspective of safety and reliability, as well as the emerging advances of PCMs in medical healthcare, clarifying the challenges and prospects for promoting the applications in the medical field, presenting the guideline for the further development. image