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Tang J, Cheng Y, Ding M, Wang C. Bio-Inspired Far-From-Equilibrium Hydrogels: Design Principles and Applications. Chempluschem 2023; 88:e202300449. [PMID: 37787015 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Inspired from dynamic living systems that operate under out-of-equilibrium conditions in biology, developing supramolecular hydrogels with self-regulating and autonomously dynamic properties to further advance adaptive hydrogels with life-like behavior is important. This review presents recent progress of bio-inspired supramolecular hydrogels out-of-equilibrium. The principle of out-of-equilibrium self-assembly for creating bio-inspired hydrogels is discussed. Various design strategies have been identified, such as chemical-driven reaction cycles with feedback control and physically oscillatory systems. These strategies can be coupled with hydrogels to achieve temporal and spatial control over structural and mechanical properties as well as programmable lifetime. These studies open up huge opportunities for potential applications, such as fluidic guidance, information storage, drug delivery, actuators and more. Finally, we address the challenges ahead of us in the coming years, and future possibilities and prospects are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiadong Tang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing, 401120, China
| | - Yibo Cheng
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Muhua Ding
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Chen Wang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing, 401120, China
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Pattloch S, Dzubiella J. Mean-field models for the chemical fueling of transient soft matter states. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:7804-7814. [PMID: 37795797 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00742a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
The chemical fueling of transient states (CFTS) is a powerful process to control the nonequilibrium structuring and the homeostatic function of adaptive soft matter systems. Here, we introduce a simple mean-field model of CFTS based on the activation of metastable equilibrium states in a tilted 'Landau' bistable energy landscape along a coarse-grained reaction coordinate (or 'order parameter') triggered by a nonmonotonic two-step chemical fueling reaction. Evaluation of the model in the quasi-static (QS) limit-valid for fast system relaxation-allows us to extract useful analytical laws for the critical activation concentration and duration of the transient states in dependence of physical parameters, such as rate constants, fuel concentrations, and the system's distance to its equilibrium transition point. We apply our model in the QS limit explicitly to recent experiments of CFTS of collapsing responsive microgels and find a very good performance with only a few global and physically interpretable fitting parameters, which can be employed for programmable material design. Moreover, our model framework also allows a thermodynamic analysis of the energy and performed work in the system. Finally, we go beyond the QS limit, where the system's response is slow and retarded versus the chemical reaction, using an overdamped Smoluchowski approach. The latter demonstrates how internal system time scales can be used to tune the time-dependent behavior and programmed delay of the transient states in full nonequilibrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Pattloch
- Applied Theoretical Physics-Computational Physics, Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS@FIT-Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Dzubiella
- Applied Theoretical Physics-Computational Physics, Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS@FIT-Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany
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Zhang Z, Liu T, Li Y, Yu Y, Ning L, Qiu X, Li C, Wang L, Xu W. Temporal Control of Fluorescent EuW 10 Aggregates for Autonomous DNA Capture and Information Encryption. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301968. [PMID: 37486795 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly exploits noncovalent interaction to offer an effective method for the fabrication of materials. For Na9 [EuW10 O36 ] ⋅ 32H2 O (EuW10 ), the negative charges and abundant oxygen atoms on its surface provide a handle for static self-assembly. New properties are envisioned for EuW10 aggregates which are able to display such kinetics and time-programming characteristics, in order to satisfy more complex and intelligent application scenarios, such as DNA binding and information encryption. In this work, EuW10 coupling with stimuli-responsive dodecyl dimethylamine oxide (C12 DMAO) can generate versatile aggregates with pH-responsive properties. We demonstrated the temporal programming of the assembly and disassembly of EuW10 nanospheres using a pH clock reaction of acid/urease hydrolysis. The pH clock reaction endows EuW10 assemblies with dynamical properties, in which the charges and fluorescence changes are coded in this system. These fluorescent assemblies provide new application in time-programmed DNA capture and information encryption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center of Cosmetics, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, Shandong Province, China
| | - Ting Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center of Cosmetics, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yawen Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center of Cosmetics, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yang Yu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center of Cosmetics, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lin Ning
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center of Cosmetics, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xuefan Qiu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center of Cosmetics, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, Shandong Province, China
| | - Chencan Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center of Cosmetics, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, Shandong Province, China
| | - Ling Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center of Cosmetics, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wenlong Xu
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, Shandong Province, China
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Cao Q, Chen W, Zhong Y, Ma X, Wang B. Biomedical Applications of Deformable Hydrogel Microrobots. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1824. [PMID: 37893261 PMCID: PMC10609176 DOI: 10.3390/mi14101824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogel, a material with outstanding biocompatibility and shape deformation ability, has recently become a hot topic for researchers studying innovative functional materials due to the growth of new biomedicine. Due to their stimulus responsiveness to external environments, hydrogels have progressively evolved into "smart" responsive (such as to pH, light, electricity, magnetism, temperature, and humidity) materials in recent years. The physical and chemical properties of hydrogels have been used to construct hydrogel micro-nano robots which have demonstrated significant promise for biomedical applications. The different responsive deformation mechanisms in hydrogels are initially discussed in this study; after which, a number of preparation techniques and a variety of structural designs are introduced. This study also highlights the most recent developments in hydrogel micro-nano robots' biological applications, such as drug delivery, stem cell treatment, and cargo manipulation. On the basis of the hydrogel micro-nano robots' current state of development, current difficulties and potential future growth paths are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Cao
- School of Materials Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China;
| | - Wenjun Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China; (Y.Z.); (X.M.)
- Sauvage Laboratory for Smart Materials, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ying Zhong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China; (Y.Z.); (X.M.)
- Sauvage Laboratory for Smart Materials, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xing Ma
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China; (Y.Z.); (X.M.)
- Sauvage Laboratory for Smart Materials, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bo Wang
- School of Materials Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China;
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Hong YK, Nakamoto M, Matsusaki M. Engineering metabolic cycle-inspired hydrogels with enzyme-fueled programmable transient volume changes. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:8136-8141. [PMID: 37565488 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb00638g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
An enzyme-fueled transient volume phase transition (TVPT) of hydrogels under out-of-equilibrium conditions is reported. The approach takes inspiration from the metabolic cycle, comprising nutrient intake and anabolism/catabolism followed by waste excretion. The incorporation of methacrylic acid and acrylated trypsin in a polymeric hydrogel allowed the TVPT of the gel to be fueled by lysozyme. With the intake of lysozyme as fuel, the construction/destruction of electrostatic cross-linkages induced transient shrinkage/swelling of the gel accompanied by the depletion of lysozyme activity. The system's transient response could be flexibly programmed by adjusting not only the fuel concentration but the chemical composition of materials. The lysozyme-fueled TVPT of the gel could be exploited to transient changes in the mechanical properties of the gel. Our work opens a route toward a new class of stimuli-responsive hydrogels for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Kyoung Hong
- School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahiko Nakamoto
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Michiya Matsusaki
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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Zhi H, Zhang X, Wang F, Feng L. A pH-Sensitive, Stretchable, Antibacterial Artificial Tongue Based on MXene Cross-Linked Ionogel. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:52422-52429. [PMID: 36351194 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c16866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Dehydration has always been a confusing problem for a hydrogel exposed to air, which restricts its application in practical detection. While an ionogel with unique properties can lock water molecules efficiently due to its low vapor pressure, the design and development of an ionogel with excellent water-locking properties and stability to achieve satisfactory detection are thus highly desirable. In this work, a pH-sensitive, stretchable, antibacterial, and stable ionogel artificial tongue was fabricated through dual cross-linking. The artificial tongue consisted of MXene as a cross-linking agent, phenol red as an indicator, gelatin, N-(2-hydroxyethyl) acrylamide, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as the three-dimensional polymer network. A small quantity of MXene was used as a cross-linker the first time to promote the initiator in the system to generate free radicals, accelerating the reaction process and the multilevel linkage among the polymers. Meanwhile, the indicator phenol red was introduced into the ionogel successfully for the first time, showing great stability in 5 weeks. After evaluation by the Brand-Altman analysis, it was found that the method of pH measurement using ionogels had good consistency with the pH meter measurement method. Additionally, the prepared ionogel presented excellent water retention, mechanical stretchability, antibacterial property, and stability, as well as good test results in the test of artificial simulated saliva, demonstrating great potential in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhi
- Department of Instrumentation and Analytical Chemistry, CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaobo Zhang
- Department of Instrumentation and Analytical Chemistry, CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengya Wang
- Department of Instrumentation and Analytical Chemistry, CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Feng
- Department of Instrumentation and Analytical Chemistry, CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, People's Republic of China
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Xu H, Bai S, Gu G, Gao Y, Sun X, Guo X, Xuan F, Wang Y. Bioinspired Self-Resettable Hydrogel Actuators Powered by a Chemical Fuel. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:43825-43832. [PMID: 36103624 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c13368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The movements of soft living tissues, such as muscle, have sparked a strong interest in the design of hydrogel actuators; however, so far, typical manmade examples still lag behind their biological counterparts, which usually function under nonequilibrium conditions through the consumption of high-energy biomolecules and show highly autonomous behaviors. Here, we report on self-resettable hydrogel actuators that are powered by a chemical fuel and can spontaneously return to their original states over time once the fuels are depleted. Self-resettable actuation originates from a chemical fuel-mediated transient change in the hydrophilicity of the hydrogel networks. The actuation extent and duration can be programmed by the fuel levels, and the self-resettable actuation process is highly recyclable through refueling. Furthermore, various proof-of-concept autonomous soft robots are created, resembling the movements of soft-bodied creatures in nature. This work may serve as a starting point for the development of lifelike soft robots with autonomous behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Xu
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Shengyu Bai
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Guanyao Gu
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Yuliang Gao
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Xun Sun
- Guizhou Aerospace Institute of Measuring and Testing Technology, Guiyang 550009, P. R. China
| | - Xuhong Guo
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Fuzhen Xuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Intelligent Sensing and Detection Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Yiming Wang
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Intelligent Sensing and Detection Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
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