Chinese scientists have developed a shape-shifting polymer which can be used to make heart brackets or surgical equipment that may help get rid of blood clot thrombosis.

The polymer developed at Zhejiang University can change between different preset shapes under certain conditions, such as temperature.

The shape-shifting polymer was formed by dunking the material into water heated to 60 degrees Celsius, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

The scientists' findings were published in Science Advances, an online journal from AAAS, the publisher of Science magazine.

Shape-shifting materials have been under development for years.

Most of these materials are incapable of accumulating multiple changes over time.

However, the polymer developed by the scientists is able to snap between different shapes, opening new applications for shape-changing materials.

"It can be used to make veins or heart brackets or on surgical equipment that can get rid of blood clot thrombosis," said Zhao Qian from Zhejiang University.

The material may also be used to make flexible medical equipment that can change shape in response to changes in body temperature.