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Xiong Y, Yuan H, Olvera de la Cruz M. Janus magnetoelastic membrane swimmers. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:6721-6730. [PMID: 37622382 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00788j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Soft swimming microrobots have attracted considerable attention due to their potential applications in diverse fields ranging from biomedicines to environmental remediation. The locomotion control is of importance to the research of micromachines and microrobots. Inspired by the motility strategies of living microorganisms, such as flagella, cilia, and euglenoids, we focus on propulsion mechanisms with a design of Janus magnetoelastic crystalline membrane microswimmers actuated by time-varying magnetic fields. Such a Janus swimmer consists of a ferromagnetic cap completed by a magnetoelastic membrane body, where superparamagnetic particles are uniformly distributed on the surface. Under the influence of external magnetic fields, the swimmer undergoes complex shape transitions due to the interplay between the magnetic dipole-dipole interactions, the elasticity of the magnetoelastic membranes, and also the hydrodynamics of surrounding fluids. We show that those shape changes are nonreciprocal, which can generate locomotion such that the propulsion speed can be optimized by tailoring the membrane elastic properties. Besides, we also demonstrate that the Janus swimmer can be magnetically guided in a spiral trajectory. With such adequate control of locomotion in both speed and direction via non-invasive magnetic fields, this study provides another promising candidate design for the future development of microswimmers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Xiong
- Center for Computation & Theory of Soft Materials, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
| | - Hang Yuan
- Applied Physics Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Monica Olvera de la Cruz
- Center for Computation & Theory of Soft Materials, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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Diehl F, Hageneder S, Fossati S, Auer SK, Dostalek J, Jonas U. Plasmonic nanomaterials with responsive polymer hydrogels for sensing and actuation. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:3926-3963. [PMID: 35471654 PMCID: PMC9126188 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs01083b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Plasmonic nanomaterials have become an integral part of numerous technologies, where they provide important functionalities spanning from extraction and harvesting of light in thin film optical devices to probing of molecular species and their interactions on biochip surfaces. More recently, we witness increasing research efforts devoted to a new class of plasmonic nanomaterials that allow for on-demand tuning of their properties by combining metallic nanostructures and responsive hydrogels. This review addresses this recently emerged vibrant field, which holds potential to expand the spectrum of possible applications and deliver functions that cannot be achieved by separate research in each of the respective fields. It aims at providing an overview of key principles, design rules, and current implementations of both responsive hydrogels and metallic nanostructures. We discuss important aspects that capitalize on the combination of responsive polymer networks with plasmonic nanostructures to perform rapid mechanical actuation and actively controlled nanoscale confinement of light associated with resonant amplification of its intensity. The latest advances towards the implementation of such responsive plasmonic nanomaterials are presented, particularly covering the field of plasmonic biosensing that utilizes refractometric measurements as well as plasmon-enhanced optical spectroscopy readout, optically driven miniature soft actuators, and light-fueled micromachines operating in an environment resembling biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Diehl
- Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Siegen, Adolf Reichwein-Straße 2, 57074 Siegen, Germany.
| | - Simone Hageneder
- Biosensor Technologies, AIT-Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
| | - Stefan Fossati
- Biosensor Technologies, AIT-Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
| | - Simone K Auer
- Biosensor Technologies, AIT-Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
- CEST Competence Center for Electrochemical Surface Technologies, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Jakub Dostalek
- Biosensor Technologies, AIT-Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
- FZU-Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, Prague 182 21, Czech Republic
| | - Ulrich Jonas
- Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Siegen, Adolf Reichwein-Straße 2, 57074 Siegen, Germany.
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Mourran A, Jung O, Vinokur R, Möller M. Microgel that swims to the beat of light. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2021; 44:79. [PMID: 34129113 PMCID: PMC8206062 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-021-00084-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Complementary to the quickly advancing understanding of the swimming of microorganisms, we demonstrate rather simple design principles for systems that can mimic swimming by body shape deformation. For this purpose, we developed a microswimmer that could be actuated and controlled by fast temperature changes through pulsed infrared light irradiation. The construction of the microswimmer has the following features: (i) it is a bilayer ribbon with a length of 80 or 120 [Formula: see text]m, consisting of a thermo-responsive hydrogel of poly-N-isopropylamide coated with a 2-nm layer of gold and equipped with homogeneously dispersed gold nanorods; (ii) the width of the ribbon is linearly tapered with a wider end of 5 [Formula: see text]m and a tip of 0.5 [Formula: see text]m; (iii) a thickness of only 1 and 2 [Formula: see text]m that ensures a maximum variation of the cross section of the ribbon along its length from square to rectangular. These wedge-shaped ribbons form conical helices when the hydrogel is swollen in cold water and extend to a filament-like object when the temperature is raised above the volume phase transition of the hydrogel at [Formula: see text]. The two ends of these ribbons undergo different but coupled modes of motion upon fast temperature cycling through plasmonic heating of the gel-objects from inside. Proper choice of the IR-light pulse sequence caused the ribbons to move at a rate of 6 body length/s (500 [Formula: see text]m/s) with the wider end ahead. Within the confinement of rectangular container of 30 [Formula: see text]m height and 300 [Formula: see text]m width, the different modes can be actuated in a way that the movement is directed by the energy input between spinning on the spot and fast forward locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Mourran
- DWI - Leibniz-Institut for Interactive Materials, RWTH university, Forckenbeckstr. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Oliver Jung
- DWI - Leibniz-Institut for Interactive Materials, RWTH university, Forckenbeckstr. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Rostislav Vinokur
- DWI - Leibniz-Institut for Interactive Materials, RWTH university, Forckenbeckstr. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Möller
- DWI - Leibniz-Institut for Interactive Materials, RWTH university, Forckenbeckstr. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany.
- Institut of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry der RWTH Aachen, Forckenbeckstr. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany.
- 3 Max-Planck School Matter to life, D-69120, Heidelbergy, Germany.
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Karg M, Pich A, Hellweg T, Hoare T, Lyon LA, Crassous JJ, Suzuki D, Gumerov RA, Schneider S, Potemkin II, Richtering W. Nanogels and Microgels: From Model Colloids to Applications, Recent Developments, and Future Trends. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:6231-6255. [PMID: 30998365 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b04304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Nanogels and microgels are soft, deformable, and penetrable objects with an internal gel-like structure that is swollen by the dispersing solvent. Their softness and the potential to respond to external stimuli like temperature, pressure, pH, ionic strength, and different analytes make them interesting as soft model systems in fundamental research as well as for a broad range of applications, in particular in the field of biological applications. Recent tremendous developments in their synthesis open access to systems with complex architectures and compositions allowing for tailoring microgels with specific properties. At the same time state-of-the-art theoretical and simulation approaches offer deeper understanding of the behavior and structure of nano- and microgels under external influences and confinement at interfaces or at high volume fractions. Developments in the experimental analysis of nano- and microgels have become particularly important for structural investigations covering a broad range of length scales relevant to the internal structure, the overall size and shape, and interparticle interactions in concentrated samples. Here we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art, recent developments as well as emerging trends in the field of nano- and microgels. The following aspects build the focus of our discussion: tailoring (multi)functionality through synthesis; the role in biological and biomedical applications; the structure and properties as a model system, e.g., for densely packed arrangements in bulk and at interfaces; as well as the theory and computer simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Karg
- Physical Chemistry I , Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf , 40204 Duesseldorf , Germany
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI-Leibnitz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Thomas Hellweg
- Physical and Biophysical Chemistry , Bielefeld University , 33615 Bielefeld , Germany
| | - Todd Hoare
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario L8S 4L8 , Canada
| | - L Andrew Lyon
- Schmid College of Science and Technology , Chapman University , Orange , California 92866 , United States
| | - J J Crassous
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | | | - Rustam A Gumerov
- DWI-Leibnitz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , Moscow 119991 , Russian Federation
| | - Stefanie Schneider
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Igor I Potemkin
- DWI-Leibnitz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , Moscow 119991 , Russian Federation
- National Research South Ural State University , Chelyabinsk 454080 , Russian Federation
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
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Chen X, Zhou C, Wang W. Colloidal Motors 101: A Beginner's Guide to Colloidal Motor Research. Chem Asian J 2019; 14:2388-2405. [DOI: 10.1002/asia.201900377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- School of Materials Science and EngineeringHarbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen) G 908, HIT Campus, Xili University Town Shenzhen Guangdong China
| | - Chao Zhou
- School of Materials Science and EngineeringHarbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen) G 908, HIT Campus, Xili University Town Shenzhen Guangdong China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Materials Science and EngineeringHarbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen) G 908, HIT Campus, Xili University Town Shenzhen Guangdong China
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Abstract
Phagocytes protect the organism by ingesting harmful foreign particles and cells. We use mesoscale computer simulations to design a phagocyte-inspired active microcapsule that is capable of selectively capturing nanoparticles dispersed in solvent. Our fully synthetic microdevice is actuated by a temperature-sensitive microgel enclosed inside a perforated spherical shell. The shell pores are decorated with a copolymer brush that regulates the transport of solutes into the capsule interior. When exposed to an external stimulus, the microgel swells, expanding through the shell pores to make contact with the nanoparticle-rich solution surrounding the capsule. Upon removal of the external stimulus, the gel retracts back into the shell, bringing along with it captured nanoparticles. We probe how periodic application of the stimulus combined with nanoparticle-microgel adhesion enable selectivity and enhance capturing efficiency of our nature-inspired microdevice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alberto Fernandez-Nieves
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA-Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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Li J, Li X, Zheng Z, Ding X. A dynamic self-regulation actuator combined double network gel with gradient structure driven by chemical oscillating reaction. RSC Adv 2019; 9:13168-13172. [PMID: 35520783 PMCID: PMC9063756 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra02340b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-regulation of the dynamic actuation of a chemical oscillating reaction-based gel was realized by altering the network structure of the gradient double network gel. We demonstrated that the propagation mode of the chemical wave was influenced by the network structure, and consequently determined the dynamic feature of the gel actuator. Self-regulation of the dynamic actuation of a chemical oscillating reaction-based gel was realized by altering the network structure of the gradient double network gel.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Chengdu Organic Chemicals Co. Ltd., Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Chengdu
- China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing
| | - Xiuchen Li
- Chengdu Organic Chemicals Co. Ltd., Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Chengdu
- China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing
| | - Zhaohui Zheng
- Chengdu Organic Chemicals Co. Ltd., Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Chengdu
- China
| | - Xiaobin Ding
- Chengdu Organic Chemicals Co. Ltd., Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Chengdu
- China
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10
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Zhang H, Mourran A, Möller M. Dynamic Switching of Helical Microgel Ribbons. NANO LETTERS 2017; 17:2010-2014. [PMID: 28181437 PMCID: PMC6291182 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
We report on a microscopic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel ribbon, coated by a thin gold layer, that shows helical coiling. Confined swelling and shrinkage of the hydrogel below and above its characteristic volume phase transition leads to a temperature actuated reversal of the sense of the helix. The extent and the shape of the winding are controlled by the dimensions and mechanical properties of the bilayer ribbon. We focus on a cylindrical helix geometry and monitor the morphing under equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions, that is, when the temperature changes faster than the volume (millisecond range). For slow temperature variations, the water release and uptake follow the equilibrium transition trajectory determined by the time needed for the diffusion of water into and out of the microscopic gel. Much faster variations of the temperature are accomplished by internal heating of embedded gold nanorods by IR-light irradiation. This causes elastic stresses that strongly affect the motions. This method enables well-reproducible deviations from the equilibrium transition path and allows us to control rather precisely the spatiotemporal transformation in a cyclic repetitive process. Actuation and response are sensitive to small variations of temperature and composition of the aqueous sol in which the gel is immersed. The principle as described may be used to detect specific analytes that bind either to the surface of the gold layer or within the gel and can modify the interaction between the water and the gel. The reported nonequilibrium morphing implies that the system dissipates energy and may also be able to perform work as required for a microscopic motor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Zhang
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute
for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ahmed Mourran
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute
for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Möller
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute
for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry der RWTH Aachen
University Forckenbeckstr.
50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
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11
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Facile preparation of hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polyvinyl alcohol-glycerol gels with excellent thermoplasticity and mechanical properties. POLYMER 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2017.01.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Mourran A, Zhang H, Vinokur R, Möller M. Soft Microrobots Employing Nonequilibrium Actuation via Plasmonic Heating. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1604825. [PMID: 27865006 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201604825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A soft microrobot composed of a microgel and driven by the light-controlled nonequilibrium dynamics of volume changes is presented. The photothermal response of the microgel, containing plasmonic gold nanorods, enables fast heating/cooling dynamics. Mastering the nonequilibrium response provides control of the complex motion, which goes beyond what has been so far reported for hydrophilic microgels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Mourran
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeck str. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Hang Zhang
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeck str. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Rostislav Vinokur
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeck str. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Möller
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeck str. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
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Wang L, Yu L, Yi L, Yuan B, Hou Y, Meng X, Liu J. Long time and distance self-propelling of a PVC sphere on a water surface with an embedded ZnO micro-/nano-structured hollow sphere. Chem Commun (Camb) 2017; 53:2347-2350. [DOI: 10.1039/c6cc09308f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In this research, a zinc oxide micro-/nano-structured hollow sphere (MNHS) with a large specific surface area is applied as energy storage material to encapsulate poly(vinyl chloride) solution and control the fuel release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryobiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
- China
| | - Lujia Yu
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryobiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
- China
| | - Liting Yi
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryobiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
- China
| | - Bin Yuan
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryobiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
- China
| | - Yongping Hou
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education
- School of Chemistry and Environment
- Beihang University
- Beijing
- P. R. China
| | - Xiangfu Meng
- Department of Chemistry
- Capital Normal University
- Beijing 100048
- China
| | - Jing Liu
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryobiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
- China
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14
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Zakharov AP, Leshansky AM, Pismen LM. Flexible helical yarn swimmers. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2016; 39:87. [PMID: 27663870 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2016-16087-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the motion of a flexible Stokesian flagellar swimmer realised as a yarn made of two intertwined elastomer fibres, one active, that can reversibly change its length in response to a local excitation causing transition to the nematic state or swelling, and the other one, a passive isotropic elastomer with identical mechanical properties. A propagating chemical wave may provide an excitation mechanism ensuring a constant length of the excited region. Generally, the swimmer moves along a helical trajectory, and the propagation and rotation velocity are very sensitive to the ratio of the excited region to the pitch of the yarn, as well as to the size of a carried load. External excitation by a moving actuating beam is less effective, unless the direction of the beam is adjusted to rotation of the swimmer.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Zakharov
- Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel.
| | - A M Leshansky
- Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - L M Pismen
- Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
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Morales D, Podolsky I, Mailen RW, Shay T, Dickey MD, Velev OD. Ionoprinted Multi-Responsive Hydrogel Actuators. MICROMACHINES 2016; 7:E98. [PMID: 30404273 PMCID: PMC6190308 DOI: 10.3390/mi7060098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We report multi-responsive and double-folding bilayer hydrogel sheet actuators, whose directional bending response is tuned by modulating the solvent quality and temperature and where locally crosslinked regions, induced by ionoprinting, enable the actuators to invert their bending axis. The sheets are made multi-responsive by combining two stimuli responsive gels that incur opposing and complementary swelling and shrinking responses to the same stimulus. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) can be tuned to specific temperatures depending on the EtOH concentration, enabling the actuators to change direction isothermally. Higher EtOH concentrations cause upper critical solution temperature (UCST) behavior in the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm) gel networks, which can induce an amplifying effect during bilayer bending. External ionoprints reliably and repeatedly invert the gel bilayer bending axis between water and EtOH. Placing the ionoprint at the gel/gel interface can lead to opposite shape conformations, but with no clear trend in the bending behavior. We hypothesize that this is due to the ionoprint passing through the neutral axis of the bilayer during shrinking in hot water. Finally, we demonstrate the ability of the actuators to achieve shapes unique to the specific external conditions towards developing more responsive and adaptive soft actuator devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Morales
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Igor Podolsky
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Russell W Mailen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Timothy Shay
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Orlin D Velev
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
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16
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Nikolov SV, Shum H, Balazs AC, Alexeev A. Computational design of microscopic swimmers and capsules: From directed motion to collective behavior. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2015.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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17
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Yeh PD, Alexeev A. Mesoscale modelling of environmentally responsive hydrogels: emerging applications. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:10083-95. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cc01027f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We review recent advances in mesoscale computational modeling, focusing on dissipative particle dynamics, used to probe stimuli-sensitive behavior of hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D. Yeh
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- USA
| | - Alexander Alexeev
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- USA
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