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Wang X, Pan C, Xia N, Zhang C, Hao B, Jin D, Su L, Zhao J, Majidi C, Zhang L. Fracture-driven power amplification in a hydrogel launcher. NATURE MATERIALS 2024:10.1038/s41563-024-01955-4. [PMID: 39043929 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01955-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Robotic tasks that require robust propulsion abilities such as jumping, ejecting or catapulting require power-amplification strategies where kinetic energy is generated from pre-stored energy. Here we report an engineered accumulated strain energy-fracture power-amplification method that is inspired by the pressurized fluidic squirting mechanism of Ecballium elaterium (squirting cucumber plants). We realize a light-driven hydrogel launcher that harnesses fast liquid vapourization triggered by the photothermal response of an embedded graphene suspension. This vapourization leads to appreciable elastic energy storage within the surrounding hydrogel network, followed by rapid elastic energy release within 0.3 ms. These soft hydrogel robots achieve controlled launching at high velocity with a predictable trajectory. The accumulated strain energy-fracture method was used to create an artificial squirting cucumber that disperses artificial seeds over metres, which can further achieve smart seeding through an integrated radio-frequency identification chip. This power-amplification strategy provides a basis for propulsive motion to advance the capabilities of miniaturized soft robotic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengfeng Pan
- The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Neng Xia
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chong Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Hao
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongdong Jin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Su
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinsheng Zhao
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Carmel Majidi
- Soft Machines Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
- Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin NT, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
- CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Center for Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Zhou Y, Meng Y, Luo G, Chen B, Zhong D, Hu Y. Laser-Induced Stress-Driven Nanoplate Jumping Visualized by Ultrafast Electron Microscopy. ACS NANO 2024. [PMID: 39018251 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c05717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Understanding laser-induced jumping has attracted great interest in nanomaterial launching and transfer but requires a high spatiotemporal resolution visualization. Here, we report a jumping dynamics of nanoplate driven by ultrafast laser-induced stress using time-resolved transmission electron microscopy. Single-shot imaging reveals a nondestructive launching of gold nanoplates in several nanoseconds after the pulsed femtosecond laser excitation. The temperature rise and acoustic vibration, derived from ultrafast electron crystallography with a picosecond time resolution, confirm the existence of a laser-induced elastic stress wave. The generation, propagation, and reflection of thermal stress waves are further clarified by atomic simulation. The nonequilibrium ultrafast laser heating produces a compressive stress wave within several picoseconds, constrained by the supporting substrate under nanoplate to provide thrust force. This compressive stress is subsequently reflected into tensile stress by the substrate, promoting the nanoplate to jump off the substrate. Furthermore, the uneven interface adhesion results in the jumping flip of nanoplates, as well as, diminished their jumping speed. This study unveils the jumping regime driven by impulsive laser-excited stress and offers understanding of light-matter interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yenan Meng
- Center for Ultrafast Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Guohu Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Center for Ultrafast Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Dongping Zhong
- Center for Ultrafast Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yongxiang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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3
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Tian Y, Xu Z, Qi H, Lu X, Jiang T, Wang L, Zhang G, Xiao R, Wu H. Magnetic-field induced shape memory hydrogels for deformable actuators. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:5314-5323. [PMID: 38712600 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00248b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Magnetic hydrogel actuators exhibit promising applications in the fields of soft robotics, bioactuators, and flexible sensors owing to their inherent advantages such as remote control capability, untethered deformation and motion control, as well as easily manipulable behavior. However, it is still a challenge for magnetic hydrogels to achieve adjustable stiffness and shape fixation under magnetic field actuation deformation. Herein, a simple and effective approach is proposed for the design of magnetic shape memory hydrogels to accomplish this objective. The magnetic shape memory hydrogels, consisting of methacrylamide, methacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol and Fe3O4 magnetic particles, which crosslinked by hydrogen bonds, are facilely prepared via one-pot polymerization. The dynamic nature of noncovalent bonds offers the magnetic hydrogels with excellent mechanical properties, precisely controlled stiffness, and effective shape fixation. The presence of Fe3O4 particles renders the hydrogels soft when subjected to an alternating current field, facilitating their deformation under the influence of an actuation magnetic field. After the elimination of the alternating current magnetic field, the hydrogels stiffen and attain a fixed actuated shape in the absence of any external magnetic field. Moreover, this remarkable magnetic shape memory hydrogel is effectively employed as an underwater soft gripper for lifting heavy objects. This work provides a novel strategy for fabricating magnetic hydrogels with non-contact reversible actuation deformation, tunable stiffness and shape locking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tian
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
- Key Laboratory of Special Purpose Equipment and Advanced Processing Technology, Ministry of Education and Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of High-end Laser Manufacturing Equipment (National "2011 Plan"), Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhirui Xu
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
- Key Laboratory of Special Purpose Equipment and Advanced Processing Technology, Ministry of Education and Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of High-end Laser Manufacturing Equipment (National "2011 Plan"), Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hao Qi
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
- Key Laboratory of Special Purpose Equipment and Advanced Processing Technology, Ministry of Education and Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of High-end Laser Manufacturing Equipment (National "2011 Plan"), Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Lu
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
- Key Laboratory of Special Purpose Equipment and Advanced Processing Technology, Ministry of Education and Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of High-end Laser Manufacturing Equipment (National "2011 Plan"), Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ting Jiang
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
- Key Laboratory of Special Purpose Equipment and Advanced Processing Technology, Ministry of Education and Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of High-end Laser Manufacturing Equipment (National "2011 Plan"), Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liqian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soft Machines and Smart Devices of Zhejiang Province, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
| | - Guang Zhang
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
- Key Laboratory of Special Purpose Equipment and Advanced Processing Technology, Ministry of Education and Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Rui Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Soft Machines and Smart Devices of Zhejiang Province, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
| | - Huaping Wu
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
- Key Laboratory of Special Purpose Equipment and Advanced Processing Technology, Ministry of Education and Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of High-end Laser Manufacturing Equipment (National "2011 Plan"), Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
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Wang Z, Xiao M, Li Z, Wang X, Li F, Yang H, Chen Y, Zhu Z. Microneedle Patches-Integrated Transdermal Bioelectronics for Minimally Invasive Disease Theranostics. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303921. [PMID: 38341619 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Wearable epidermal electronics with non- or minimally-invasive characteristics can collect, transduce, communicate, and interact with accessible physicochemical health indicators on the skin. However, due to the stratum corneum layer, rich information about body health is buried under the skin stratum corneum layer, for example, in the skin interstitial fluid. Microneedle patches are typically designed with arrays of special microsized needles of length within 1000 µm. Such characteristics potentially enable the access and sample of biomolecules under the skin or give therapeutical treatment painlessly and transdermally. Integrating microneedle patches with various electronics allows highly efficient transdermal bioelectronics, showing their great promise for biomedical and healthcare applications. This comprehensive review summarizes and highlights the recent progress on integrated transdermal bioelectronics based on microneedle patches. The design criteria and state-of-the-art fabrication techniques for such devices are initially discussed. Next, devices with different functions, including but not limited to health monitoring, drug delivery, and therapeutical treatment, are highlighted in detail. Finally, key issues associated with current technologies and future opportunities are elaborated to sort out the state of recent research, point out potential bottlenecks, and provide future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifeng Wang
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 516 Jungong Road, Shanghai, 200093, China
| | - Min Xiao
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 516 Jungong Road, Shanghai, 200093, China
| | - Zhanhong Li
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 516 Jungong Road, Shanghai, 200093, China
| | - Xinghao Wang
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 516 Jungong Road, Shanghai, 200093, China
| | - Fangjie Li
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Huayuan Yang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Zhigang Zhu
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 516 Jungong Road, Shanghai, 200093, China
- Health Industry Innovation Center, Xin-Huangpu Joint Innovation Institute of Chinese Medicine, 81 Xiangxue Middle Avenue, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510799, China
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5
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Zhu T, Wan L, Li R, Zhang M, Li X, Liu Y, Cai D, Lu H. Janus structure hydrogels: recent advances in synthetic strategies, biomedical microstructure and (bio)applications. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:3003-3026. [PMID: 38695621 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm02051g] [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: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Janus structure hydrogels (JSHs) are novel materials. Their primary fabrication methods and various applications have been widely reported. JSHs are primarily composed of Janus particles (JNPs) and polysaccharide components. They exhibit two distinct physical or chemical properties, generating intriguing characteristics due to their asymmetric structure. Normally, one side (adhesive interface) is predominantly constituted of polysaccharide components, primarily serving excellent adhesion. On the other side (functional surface), they integrate diverse functionalities, concurrently performing a plethora of synergistic functions. In the biomedical field, JSHs are widely applied in anti-adhesion, drug delivery, wound healing, and other areas. It also exhibits functions in seawater desalination and motion sensing. Thus, JSHs hold broad prospects for applications, and they possess significant research value in nanotechnology, environmental science, healthcare, and other fields. Additionally, this article proposes the challenges and future work facing these fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taifu Zhu
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Lei Wan
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Ruiqi Li
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Mu Zhang
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Xiaoling Li
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Yilong Liu
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Dingjun Cai
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Haibin Lu
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
- Department of Stomatology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510900, China.
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6
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Kalulu M, Chilikwazi B, Hu J, Fu G. Soft Actuators and Actuation: Design, Synthesis, and Applications. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024:e2400282. [PMID: 38850266 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400282] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Soft actuators are one of the most promising technological advancements with potential solutions to diverse fields' day-to-day challenges. Soft actuators derived from hydrogel materials possess unique features such as flexibility, responsiveness to stimuli, and intricate deformations, making them ideal for soft robotics, artificial muscles, and biomedical applications. This review provides an overview of material composition and design techniques for hydrogel actuators, exploring 3D printing, photopolymerization, cross-linking, and microfabrication methods for improved actuation. It examines applications of hydrogel actuators in biomedical, soft robotics, bioinspired systems, microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip devices, and environmental, and energy systems. Finally, it discusses challenges, opportunities, advancements, and regulatory aspects related to hydrogel actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mulenga Kalulu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189, P. R. China
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia
| | - Bright Chilikwazi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia
| | - Jun Hu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Guodong Fu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189, P. R. China
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7
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Chen R, Zhang H, Du Y, Ma H, Ma X, Ji J, Wang X, Xue M. Photothermal Conversion of the Oleophilic PVDF/Ti 3C 2T x Porous Foam Enables Non-Aqueous Liquid System Applicable Actuator. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2309130. [PMID: 38247181 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Various physical and chemical reaction processes occur in non-aqueous liquid systems, particularly in oil phase systems. Therefore, achieving efficient, accurate, controllable, and cost-effective movement and transfer of substances in the oil phase is crucial. Liquid-phase photothermal actuators (LPAs) are commonly used for material transport in liquid-phase systems due to their remote operability and precise control. However, existing LPAs typically rely on materials like hydrogels and flexible polymers, commonly unsuitable for non-aqueous liquids. Herein, a 3D porous poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/Ti3C2Tx actuator is developed using a solvent displacement method. It demonstrates directional movement and controlled material transport in non-aqueous liquid systems. When subject to infrared light irradiation (2.0 W cm-2), the actuator achieves motion velocities of 7.3 and 6 mm s-1 vertically and horizontally, respectively. The actuator's controllable motion capability is primarily attributed to the foam's oil-wettable properties, 3D porous oil transport network, and the excellent photothermal conversion performance of Ti3C2Tx, facilitating thermal diffusion and the Marangoni effect. Apart from multidimensional directions, the actuator enables material delivery and obstacle avoidance by transporting and releasing target objects to a predetermined position. Hence, the developed controllable actuator offers a viable solution for effective motion control and material handling in non-aqueous liquid environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoqi Chen
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Huanrong Zhang
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yuhang Du
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xinlei Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Junhui Ji
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xusheng Wang
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Mianqi Xue
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
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Kropacek J, Maslen C, Gidoni P, Cigler P, Stepanek F, Rehor I. Light-Responsive Hydrogel Microcrawlers, Powered and Steered with Spatially Homogeneous Illumination. Soft Robot 2024; 11:531-538. [PMID: 38447126 DOI: 10.1089/soro.2023.0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Sub-millimeter untethered locomoting robots hold promise to radically change multiple areas of human activity such as microfabrication/assembly or health care. To overcome the associated hurdles of such a degree of robot miniaturization, radically new approaches are being adopted, often relying on soft actuating polymeric materials. Here, we present light-driven, crawling microrobots that locomote by a single degree of freedom actuation of their light-responsive tail section. The direction of locomotion is dictated by the robot body design and independent of the spatial modulation of the light stimuli, allowing simultaneous multidirectional motion of multiple robots. Moreover, we present a method for steering such robots by reversibly deforming their front section, using ultraviolet (UV) light as a trigger. The deformation dictates the robot locomotion, performing right- or left-hand turning when the UV is turned on or off respectively. The robots' motion and navigation are not coupled to the position of the light sources, which enables simultaneous locomotion of multiple robots, steering of robots and brings about flexibility with the methods to deliver the light to the place of robot operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jindrich Kropacek
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Charlie Maslen
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Paolo Gidoni
- Polytechnic Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Department of Decision-Making Theory, Institute of Information Theory and Automation of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Cigler
- Synthetic Nanochemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Stepanek
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Rehor
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- Synthetic Nanochemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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9
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Zhou K, Sun R, Wojciechowski JP, Wang R, Yeow J, Zuo Y, Song X, Wang C, Shao Y, Stevens MM. 4D Multimaterial Printing of Soft Actuators with Spatial and Temporal Control. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2312135. [PMID: 38290081 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Soft actuators (SAs) are devices which can interact with delicate objects in a manner not achievable with traditional robotics. While it is possible to design a SA whose actuation is triggered via an external stimulus, the use of a single stimulus creates challenges in the spatial and temporal control of the actuation. Herein, a 4D printed multimaterial soft actuator design (MMSA) whose actuation is only initiated by a combination of triggers (i.e., pH and temperature) is presented. Using 3D printing, a multilayered soft actuator with a hydrophilic pH-sensitive layer, and a hydrophobic magnetic and temperature-responsive shape-memory polymer layer, is designed. The hydrogel responds to environmental pH conditions by swelling or shrinking, while the shape-memory polymer can resist the shape deformation of the hydrogel until triggered by temperature or light. The combination of these stimuli-responsive layers allows for a high level of spatiotemporal control of the actuation. The utility of the 4D MMSA is demonstrated via a series of cargo capture and release experiments, validating its ability to demonstrate active spatiotemporal control. The MMSA concept provides a promising research direction to develop multifunctional soft devices with potential applications in biomedical engineering and environmental engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhou
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Rujie Sun
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Jonathan P Wojciechowski
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Richard Wang
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Jonathan Yeow
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Yuyang Zuo
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Xin Song
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Chunliang Wang
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Yue Shao
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Molly M Stevens
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Department of Engineering Science, and Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
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10
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Zhou Y, Cheng W, Dai L, Guo S, Wu J, Wang X, Wu A, Liu L, Jiao N. Novel Operation Mechanism and Multifunctional Applications of Bubble Microrobots. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303767. [PMID: 38230855 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Microrobots have emerged as powerful tools for manipulating particles, cells, and assembling biological tissue structures at the microscale. However, achieving precise and flexible operation of arbitrary-shaped microstructures in 3D space remains a challenge. In this study, three novel operation methods based on bubble microrobots are proposed to enable delicate and multifunctional manipulation of various microstructures. These methods include 3D turnover, fixed-point rotation, and 3D ejection. By harnessing the combined principles of the effect of the heat flow field and surface tension of an optothermally generated bubble, the bubble microrobot can perform tasks such as flipping an SIA humanoid structure, rotating a bird-like structure, and launching a hollow rocket-like structure. The proposed multi-mode operation of bubble microrobots enables diverse attitude adjustments of microstructures with different sizes and shapes in both 2D and 3D spaces. As a demonstration, a biological microenvironment of brain glioblastoma is constructed by the bubble microrobot. The simplicity, versatility, and flexibility of this proposed method hold great promise for applications in micromanipulation, assembly, and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wen Cheng
- Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110022, China
| | - Liguo Dai
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing of Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Songyi Guo
- Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110022, China
| | - Junfeng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Anhua Wu
- Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110022, China
| | - Lianqing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Niandong Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
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11
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Yao DR, Kim I, Yin S, Gao W. Multimodal Soft Robotic Actuation and Locomotion. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2308829. [PMID: 38305065 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202308829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Diverse and adaptable modes of complex motion observed at different scales in living creatures are challenging to reproduce in robotic systems. Achieving dexterous movement in conventional robots can be difficult due to the many limitations of applying rigid materials. Robots based on soft materials are inherently deformable, compliant, adaptable, and adjustable, making soft robotics conducive to creating machines with complicated actuation and motion gaits. This review examines the mechanisms and modalities of actuation deformation in materials that respond to various stimuli. Then, strategies based on composite materials are considered to build toward actuators that combine multiple actuation modes for sophisticated movements. Examples across literature illustrate the development of soft actuators as free-moving, entirely soft-bodied robots with multiple locomotion gaits via careful manipulation of external stimuli. The review further highlights how the application of soft functional materials into robots with rigid components further enhances their locomotive abilities. Finally, taking advantage of the shape-morphing properties of soft materials, reconfigurable soft robots have shown the capacity for adaptive gaits that enable transition across environments with different locomotive modes for optimal efficiency. Overall, soft materials enable varied multimodal motion in actuators and robots, positioning soft robotics to make real-world applications for intricate and challenging tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dickson R Yao
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Inho Kim
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Shukun Yin
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Wei Gao
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
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12
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Wu L, Huang X, Wang M, Chen J, Chang J, Zhang H, Zhang X, Conn A, Rossiter J, Birchall M, Song W. Tunable Light-Responsive Polyurethane-urea Elastomer Driven by Photochemical and Photothermal Coupling Mechanism. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:19480-19495. [PMID: 38581369 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c00486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Light-driven soft actuators based on photoresponsive materials can be used to mimic biological motion, such as hand movements, without involving rigid or bulky electromechanical actuations. However, to our knowledge, no robust photoresponsive material with desireable mechanical and biological properties and relatively simple manufacture exists for robotics and biomedical applications. Herein, we report a new visible-light-responsive thermoplastic elastomer synthesized by introducing photoswitchable moieties (i.e., azobenzene derivatives) into the main chain of poly(ε-caprolactone) based polyurethane urea (PAzo). A PAzo elastomer exhibits controllable light-driven stiffness softening due to its unique nanophase structure in response to light, while possessing excellent hyperelasticity (stretchability of 575.2%, elastic modulus of 17.6 MPa, and strength of 44.0 MPa). A bilayer actuator consisting of PAzo and polyimide films is developed, demonstrating tunable bending modes by varying incident light intensities. Actuation mechanism via photothermal and photochemical coupling effects of a soft-hard nanophase is demonstrated through both experimental and theoretical analyses. We demonstrate an exemplar application of visible-light-controlled soft "fingers" playing a piano on a smartphone. The robustness of the PAzo elastomer and its scalability, in addition to its excellent biocompatibility, opens the door to the development of reproducible light-driven wearable/implantable actuators and lightweight soft robots for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wu
- Centre of Biomaterials for in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Xia Huang
- Centre of Biomaterials for in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Meng Wang
- Centre of Biomaterials for in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Jishizhan Chen
- Centre of Biomaterials for in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Jinke Chang
- Centre of Biomaterials for in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Han Zhang
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Xuetong Zhang
- Centre of Biomaterials for in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-tech and Nano-bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Andrew Conn
- Dept of Engineering Mathematics and Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UB, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Rossiter
- Dept of Engineering Mathematics and Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UB, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Birchall
- UCL Ear Institute, Royal National Ear Nose and Throat and Eastman Dental Hospitals (UCLH NHS Foundation Trust), University College London, London WC1X 8EE, United Kingdom
| | - Wenhui Song
- Centre of Biomaterials for in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
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13
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Zhang M, Shen H, Hakobyan K, Jiang Z, Liang K, Xu J. Robust Hydrogel Actuators Functioning in Multi-Environments Enabled by Thermo-Responsive Polymer Nanoparticle Coatings on Hydrogel Surfaces. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2400534. [PMID: 38597736 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogel actuators with anisotropic structures exhibit reversible responsiveness upon the trigger of various external stimuli, rendering them promising for applications in many fields including artificial muscles and soft robotics. However, their effective operation across multiple environments remains a persistent challenge, even for widely studied thermo-responsive polymers like poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAm). Current attempts to address this issue are hindered by complex synthetic procedures or specific substrates. This study introduces a straightforward methodology to grow a thin, dense PNIPAm nanoparticle layer on diverse hydrogel surfaces, creating a highly temperature-sensitive hydrogel actuator. This actuator demonstrates adaptability across various environments, including water, oil, and open air, owing to its distinct structure facilitating self-water circulation during actuation. The thin PNIPAm layer consists of interconnected PNIPAm nanoparticles synthesized via in situ interfacial precipitation polymerization, seamlessly bonded to the hydrogel substrate through an interfacial layer containing hybrid hydrogel/PNIPAm nanoparticles. This unique anisotropic structure ensures exceptional structural stability without interfacial delamination, even enduring harsh treatments such as freezing, ultrasonic irradiation, and prolonged water immersion. Remarkably, PNIPAm films on hydrogel surfaces which enable programmable 3D actuation can also be precisely patterned. This synthetic approach opens a novel pathway for fabricating advanced hydrogel actuators with broad-ranging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengnan Zhang
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design and Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Haokun Shen
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design and Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Karen Hakobyan
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design and Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Zhen Jiang
- School of Mechanical, Materials and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Wollongong, Sydney, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Kang Liang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Jiangtao Xu
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design and Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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14
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Ma H, Zou Y, Liu L, Zhang X, Yu J, Fan Y. Mussel-inspired chitin nanofiber adherable hydrogel sensor with interpenetrating network and great fatigue resistance for motion and acoustics monitoring. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130059. [PMID: 38340919 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
A method for grafting dopamine onto TEMPO-oxidized chitin nanofibers (TOChN) was developed, achieving a surface grafting rate of 54 % through the EDC/NHS reaction. This process resulted in the formation of dopamine-grafted TOChN (TOChN-DA). Subsequently, an adherent, highly sensitive, fatigue-resistant conductive PAM/TOChN-PDA/Fe3+ (PTPF) hydrogel was successfully synthesized based on the composition of polyacrylamide (PAM) and TOChN-DA, which exhibited good cell compatibility, a tensile strength of 89.42 kPa, and a high adhesion strength of 62.56 kPa with 1.2 wt% TOChN-DA. Notably, the PTPF hydrogel showed stable adherence to various surfaces, such as rubber, copper, and human skin. Specifically, the addition of FeCl3 contributed to a multifunctional design in the PTPF interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel, endowing it with conductivity, cohesion, and antioxidant properties, which facilitated sensitive motion and acoustics monitoring. Moreover, the PTPF hydrogel demonstrated exceptional fatigue resistance and sensing stability, maintaining performance at 50 % strain over 1000 cycles. These attributes render the PTPF hydrogel a promising candidate for advanced biosensors in medical and athletic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huazhong Ma
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Longpan Road 159, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Yujun Zou
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Longpan Road 159, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Liang Liu
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Longpan Road 159, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Xian Zhang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Longpan Road 159, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Juan Yu
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Longpan Road 159, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Yimin Fan
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Longpan Road 159, Nanjing 210037, China.
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15
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Yao X, Chen H, Qin H, Cong HP. Nanocomposite Hydrogel Actuators with Ordered Structures: From Nanoscale Control to Macroscale Deformations. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2300414. [PMID: 37365950 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Flexible intelligent actuators with the characteristics of flexibility, safety and scalability, are highly promising in industrial production, biomedical fields, environmental monitoring, and soft robots. Nanocomposite hydrogels are attractive candidates for soft actuators due to their high pliability, intelligent responsiveness, and capability to execute large-scale rapid reversible deformations under external stimuli. Here, the recent advances of nanocomposite hydrogels as soft actuators are reviewed and focus is on the construction of elaborate and programmable structures by the assembly of nano-objects in the hydrogel matrix. With the help of inducing the gradient or oriented distributions of the nanounits during the gelation process by the external forces or molecular interactions, nanocomposite hydrogels with ordered structures are achieved, which can perform bending, spiraling, patterned deformations, and biomimetic complex shape changes. Given great advantages of these intricate yet programmable shape-morphing, nanocomposite hydrogel actuators have presented high potentials in the fields of moving robots, energy collectors, and biomedicines. In the end, the challenges and future perspectives of this emerging field of nanocomposite hydrogel actuators are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yao
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Catalytic Materials and Reaction Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Catalytic Materials and Reaction Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Haili Qin
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Catalytic Materials and Reaction Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Huai-Ping Cong
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Catalytic Materials and Reaction Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
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16
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Wang Z, Chen Y, Ma Y, Wang J. Bioinspired Stimuli-Responsive Materials for Soft Actuators. Biomimetics (Basel) 2024; 9:128. [PMID: 38534813 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9030128] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological species can walk, swim, fly, jump, and climb with fast response speeds and motion complexity. These remarkable functions are accomplished by means of soft actuation organisms, which are commonly composed of muscle tissue systems. To achieve the creation of their biomimetic artificial counterparts, various biomimetic stimuli-responsive materials have been synthesized and developed in recent decades. They can respond to various external stimuli in the form of structural or morphological transformations by actively or passively converting input energy into mechanical energy. They are the core element of soft actuators for typical smart devices like soft robots, artificial muscles, intelligent sensors and nanogenerators. Significant progress has been made in the development of bioinspired stimuli-responsive materials. However, these materials have not been comprehensively summarized with specific actuation mechanisms in the literature. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in biomimetic stimuli-responsive materials that are instrumental for soft actuators. Firstly, different stimuli-responsive principles for soft actuators are discussed, including fluidic, electrical, thermal, magnetic, light, and chemical stimuli. We further summarize the state-of-the-art stimuli-responsive materials for soft actuators and explore the advantages and disadvantages of using electroactive polymers, magnetic soft composites, photo-thermal responsive polymers, shape memory alloys and other responsive soft materials. Finally, we provide a critical outlook on the field of stimuli-responsive soft actuators and emphasize the challenges in the process of their implementation to various industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongbao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yixin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yuan Ma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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17
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Lei B, Wen ZY, Wang HK, Gao J, Chen LJ. Bioinspired Jumping Soft Actuators of the Liquid Crystal Elastomer Enabled by Photo-Mechanical Coupling. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:1596-1604. [PMID: 38153381 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c16530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Jumping, a fundamental survival behavior observed in organisms, serves as a vital mechanism for adapting to the surrounding environment and overcoming significant obstacles within a given terrain. Here, we present a light-controlled soft jumping actuator inspired by asphondylia, which employs a closed-loop structure and utilizes a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE). Photo-mechanical coupling highlights the significant influence of the light source on the actuator's jumping behavior. Manipulating the light intensity, the relative position of stimulus and light lock, and the concentration of disperse red 1 (DR1) allows precise control over both the maximum take-off velocity and jump height. Furthermore, tailoring the size of the LCE actuator offers a means of regulating jumping behavior. Upon exposure to 460 nm LED irradiation, our actuator achieves remarkable performance, with a maximum jumping height of 10 body length (BL) and take-off velocity of 62 BL/s. These actuators accumulate and rapidly release energy, enabling the effective transportation of microcargos across substantial distances. Our research yields valuable insights into the realm of soft robotics, underscoring the pivotal importance of photo-mechanical coupling in the field of soft robotics, thereby serving as a catalyst for inspiring continued exploration of agile and capable systems by prestoring elastic energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Lei
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Zhi-Yuan Wen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Hua-Kun Wang
- Department of Civil Engineering, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Simulations for Coastal Civil Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Department of Civil Engineering, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Simulations for Coastal Civil Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Lu-Jian Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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18
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Zhu L, Tian L, Jiang S, Han L, Liang Y, Li Q, Chen S. Advances in photothermal regulation strategies: from efficient solar heating to daytime passive cooling. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:7389-7460. [PMID: 37743823 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00500c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Photothermal regulation concerning solar harvesting and repelling has recently attracted significant interest due to the fast-growing research focus in the areas of solar heating for evaporation, photocatalysis, motion, and electricity generation, as well as passive cooling for cooling textiles and smart buildings. The parallel development of photothermal regulation strategies through both material and system designs has further improved the overall solar utilization efficiency for heating/cooling. In this review, we will review the latest progress in photothermal regulation, including solar heating and passive cooling, and their manipulating strategies. The underlying mechanisms and criteria of highly efficient photothermal regulation in terms of optical absorption/reflection, thermal conversion, transfer, and emission properties corresponding to the extensive catalog of nanostructured materials are discussed. The rational material and structural designs with spectral selectivity for improving the photothermal regulation performance are then highlighted. We finally present the recent significant developments of applications of photothermal regulation in clean energy and environmental areas and give a brief perspective on the current challenges and future development of controlled solar energy utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Liang Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Siyi Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Lihua Han
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Yunzheng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Su Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
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19
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Zuo L, Wu M, Zhang H, Zhang S, Ma Z, Luo J, Ding C, Li J. A hydrogel gripper enabling fine movement based on spatiotemporal mineralization. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:8966-8973. [PMID: 37695077 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01252b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Fine tailoring of the subtle movements of a hydrogel actuator through simple methods has widespread application prospects in wearable electronics, bionic robots and biomedical engineering. However, to the best of our knowledge, this challenge is not yet completed. Inspired by the diffusion-reaction process in nature, a hydrogel gripper with the capability of fine movement was successfully prepared based on the spatiotemporal fabrication of the polypyrrole (PPY) pattern in a poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel. The hydrogel was given gradient porous structures using a one-step UV irradiation method. Moreover, photothermal PPY patterns on the hydrogel were obtained through spatiotemporal mineralization of ferric hydroxide followed by the polymerization of pyrrole in a controllable manner. Taking advantage of the unique structures, the hydrogel gripper can not only achieve reversible grasping-releasing of substrates with the tuning of temperature (similar to that of hands), but also generate delicate movement under the irradiation of light (resembling that of finger joints). The strategy reported here is easily accessible and there is no need for sophisticated templates, therefore making it superior to other existing methods. We believe this work will provide references for the design and application of more advanced soft actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangrui Zuo
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Mingzhen Wu
- Guangxi Institute for Food and Drug Control, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Shikai Zhang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Zhengxin Ma
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Jun Luo
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Chunmei Ding
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Jianshu Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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20
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Tao Y, Lin L, Ren X, Wang X, Cao X, Gu H, Ye Y, Ren Y, Zhang Z. Four-Dimensional Micro/Nanorobots via Laser Photochemical Synthesis towards the Molecular Scale. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1656. [PMID: 37763819 PMCID: PMC10537291 DOI: 10.3390/mi14091656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Miniaturized four-dimensional (4D) micro/nanorobots denote a forerunning technique associated with interdisciplinary applications, such as in embeddable labs-on-chip, metamaterials, tissue engineering, cell manipulation, and tiny robotics. With emerging smart interactive materials, static micro/nanoscale architectures have upgraded to the fourth dimension, evincing time-dependent shape/property mutation. Molecular-level 4D robotics promises complex sensing, self-adaption, transformation, and responsiveness to stimuli for highly valued functionalities. To precisely control 4D behaviors, current-laser-induced photochemical additive manufacturing, such as digital light projection, stereolithography, and two-photon polymerization, is pursuing high-freeform shape-reconfigurable capacities and high-resolution spatiotemporal programming strategies, which challenge multi-field sciences while offering new opportunities. Herein, this review summarizes the recent development of micro/nano 4D laser photochemical manufacturing, incorporating active materials and shape-programming strategies to provide an envisioning of these miniaturized 4D micro/nanorobots. A comparison with other chemical/physical fabricated micro/nanorobots further explains the advantages and potential usage of laser-synthesized micro/nanorobots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Tao
- Institute of Micro-Nano Optoelectronics and Terahertz Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- Postdoctoral Workstation, Zhejiang Chuangge Technology Co., Ltd., Zhuji 311899, China
| | - Liansheng Lin
- Institute of Micro-Nano Optoelectronics and Terahertz Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Xudong Ren
- Institute of Micro-Nano Optoelectronics and Terahertz Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Xuejiao Wang
- Institute of Micro-Nano Optoelectronics and Terahertz Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Xia Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Heng Gu
- Institute of Micro-Nano Optoelectronics and Terahertz Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Yunxia Ye
- Institute of Micro-Nano Optoelectronics and Terahertz Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Yunpeng Ren
- Institute of Micro-Nano Optoelectronics and Terahertz Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- Postdoctoral Workstation, Zhejiang Chuangge Technology Co., Ltd., Zhuji 311899, China
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21
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Wang D, Chen Z, Li M, Hou Z, Zhan C, Zheng Q, Wang D, Wang X, Cheng M, Hu W, Dong B, Shi F, Sitti M. Bioinspired rotary flight of light-driven composite films. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5070. [PMID: 37604907 PMCID: PMC10442326 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40827-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Light-driven actuators have great potential in different types of applications. However, it is still challenging to apply them in flying devices owing to their slow response, small deflection and force output and low frequency response. Herein, inspired by the structure of vine maple seeds, we report a helicopter-like rotary flying photoactuator (in response to 0.6 W/cm2 near-infrared (NIR) light) with ultrafast rotation (~7200 revolutions per minute) and rapid response (~650 ms). This photoactuator is operated based on a fundamentally different mechanism that depends on the synergistic interactions between the photothermal graphene and the hygroscopic agar/silk fibroin components, the subsequent aerodynamically favorable airscrew formation, the jet propulsion, and the aerodynamics-based flying. The soft helicopter-like photoactuator exhibits controlled flight and steering behaviors, making it promising for applications in soft robotics and other miniature devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials & Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials & Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhaomin Chen
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials & Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Mingtong Li
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Zhen Hou
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials & Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Changsong Zhan
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials & Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Qijun Zheng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Dalei Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials & Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials & Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Mengjiao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials & Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Wenqi Hu
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Bin Dong
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials & Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
| | - Feng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials & Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
- School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Koç University, 34450, Istanbul, Turkey.
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22
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Zheng Z, Han J, Demir SO, Wang H, Jiang W, Liu H, Sitti M. Electrodeposited Superhydrophilic-Superhydrophobic Composites for Untethered Multi-Stimuli-Responsive Soft Millirobots. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302409. [PMID: 37288527 PMCID: PMC10427389 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
To navigate in complex and unstructured real-world environments, soft miniature robots need to possess multiple functions, including autonomous environmental sensing, self-adaptation, and multimodal locomotion. However, to achieve multifunctionality, artificial soft robots should respond to multiple stimuli, which can be achieved by multimaterial integration using facile and flexible fabrication methods. Here, a multimaterial integration strategy for fabricating soft millirobots that uses electrodeposition to integrate two inherently non-adherable materials, superhydrophilic hydrogels and superhydrophobic elastomers, together via gel roots is proposed. This approach enables the authors to electrodeposit sodium alginate hydrogel onto a laser-induced graphene-coated elastomer, which can then be laser cut into various shapes to function as multi-stimuli-responsive soft robots (MSRs). Each MSR can respond to six different stimuli to autonomously transform their shapes, and mimic flowers, vines, mimosas, and flytraps. It is demonstrated that MSRs can climb slopes, switch locomotion modes, self-adapt between air-liquid environments, and transport cargo between different environments. This multimaterial integration strategy enables creating untethered soft millirobots that have multifunctionality, such as environmental sensing, self-propulsion, and self-adaptation, paving the way for their future operation in complex real-world environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zheng
- Physical Intelligence DepartmentMax Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems70569StuttgartGermany
| | - Jie Han
- Physical Intelligence DepartmentMax Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems70569StuttgartGermany
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems EngineeringXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710054China
- School of Mechanical EngineeringXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710054China
| | - Sinan Ozgun Demir
- Physical Intelligence DepartmentMax Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems70569StuttgartGermany
| | - Huaping Wang
- Intelligent Robotics InstituteSchool of Mechatronical EngineeringBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems (Beijing Institute of Technology)Ministry of EducationBeijing100081China
| | - Weitao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems EngineeringXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710054China
- School of Mechanical EngineeringXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710054China
| | - Hongzhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems EngineeringXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710054China
- School of Mechanical EngineeringXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710054China
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence DepartmentMax Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems70569StuttgartGermany
- Institute for Biomedical EngineeringETH ZurichZurich8092Switzerland
- School of Medicine and College of EngineeringKoç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
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23
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Li S, Cai Z, Han J, Ma Y, Tong Z, Wang M, Xiao L, Jia S, Chen X. Fast-response photothermal bilayer actuator based on poly( N-isopropylacrylamide)-graphene oxide-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/polydimethylsiloxane. RSC Adv 2023; 13:18090-18098. [PMID: 37323431 PMCID: PMC10267671 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra03213b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Demands for highly deformable and responsive intelligent actuators are increasing rapidly. Herein, a photothermal bilayer actuator consisting of a photothermal-responsive composite hydrogel layer and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer is presented. The photothermal-responsive composite hydrogel is prepared by compositing hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and the photothermal material graphene oxide (GO) with the thermal-responsive hydrogel poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). The HEMA improves the transport efficiency of water molecules inside the hydrogel network, eliciting a fast response and large deformation, facilitating greater bending behavior of the bilayer actuator, and improving the mechanical and tensile properties of the hydrogel. Moreover, GO enhances the mechanical properties and the photothermal conversion efficiency of the hydrogel in the thermal environment. This photothermal bilayer actuator can be driven under various conditions, such as hot solution, simulated sunlight, and laser, and can achieve large bending deformation with desirable tensile properties, broadening the application conditions for bilayer actuators, such as artificial muscles, bionic actuators, and soft robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University Taiyuan 030006 China
| | - Zhuo Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University Taiyuan 030006 China
| | - Jiemin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University Taiyuan 030006 China
| | - Yifei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University Taiyuan 030006 China
| | - Zhaomin Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University Taiyuan 030006 China
| | - Mei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University Taiyuan 030006 China
| | - Liantuan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University Taiyuan 030006 China
| | - Suotang Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University Taiyuan 030006 China
| | - Xuyuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University Taiyuan 030006 China
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Microsystems, University of Southeast Norway Borre N-3184 Norway
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24
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Zhao Y, Yang N, Chu X, Sun F, Ali MU, Zhang Y, Yang B, Cai Y, Liu M, Gasparini N, Zheng J, Zhang C, Guo C, Meng H. Wide-Humidity Range Applicable, Anti-Freezing, and Healable Zwitterionic Hydrogels for Ion-Leakage-Free Iontronic Sensors. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2211617. [PMID: 36921620 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202211617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels have entered the spotlight for applications in soft electronics. It is essential and challenging to obtain hydrogels that can function properly under varying environmental circumstances, that is, 30-90% relative humidity (RH) and -20 to 40 °C due to their intrinsic nature to lose and absorb water upon variations in humidity and temperature. In this work, a green solvent, solketal, is introduced into poly 3-dimethyl-2-(2-methylprop-2-enoyloxy)ethyl azaniumyl propane-1-sulfonate (poly(DMAPS)) zwitterionic hydrogels. Compared to glycerol, solketal endows hydrogels with greater possibility for further modification as well as improved water content and mechanical performance consistency over 30-90% RH. Encouragingly, the optimized hydrogel demonstrates its unique merits as a dielectric layer in iontronic sensors, featuring non-leaky ions, high sensitivity (1100 kPa-1 ), wide humidity, and temperature range applicability. A wide-humidity range healable and stretchable electrode is attained by combining the hydrogel substrate with Ag paste. A full-device healable and highly-sensitive sensor is developed. This study is a pioneering work that tackles the broad humidity range applicability issue of hydrogels, and demonstrates the ion-leakage-free ionic skins with zwitterionic dielectrics. The outcomes of the study will considerably promote advancements in the fields of hydrogel electronics and iontronic sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqian Zhao
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Na Yang
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xu Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Fuchang Sun
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Muhammad Umair Ali
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Biao Yang
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yulu Cai
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Manyu Liu
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Nicola Gasparini
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Jiaxin Zheng
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Chaohong Zhang
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Chuanfei Guo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Hong Meng
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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25
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Ji T, Gong W, Zhou J, Jing Y, Xing R, Zhu B, Li K, Hou C, Zhang Q, Li Y, Wang H. Scalable multi-dimensional topological deformation actuators for active object identification. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:1726-1736. [PMID: 36891764 DOI: 10.1039/d2mh01567f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Rarely are bionic robots capable of rapid multi-dimensional deformation and object identification in the same way as animals and plants. This study proposes a topological deformation actuator for bionic robots based on pre-expanded polyethylene and large flake MXene, inspired by the octopus predation behavior. This unusual, large-area topological deformation actuator (easily reaching 800 cm2 but is not constrained to this size) prepared by large-scale blow molding and continuous scrape coating exhibits different distribution states of molecular chains at low and high temperatures, causing the actuator's deformation direction to change axially. With its multi-dimensional topological deformation and self-powered active object identification capabilities, the actuator can capture objects like an octopus. The contact electrification effect assists the actuator to identify the type and size of the target object during this multi-dimensional topological deformation that is controllable and designable. This work demonstrates the direct conversion of light energy into contact electrical signals, introducing a new route for the practicality and scaling of bionic robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
| | - Wei Gong
- College of Light-Textile Engineering and Art, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, P. R. China.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117583, Singapore
| | - Jie Zhou
- School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610100, China
| | - Yangmin Jing
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
| | - Ruizhe Xing
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, P. R. China
| | - Bingjie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
| | - Kerui Li
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
| | - Chengyi Hou
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
| | - Qinghong Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
| | - Yaogang Li
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
| | - Hongzhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
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26
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Wang Z, Zhang X, Wang Y, Fang Z, Jiang H, Yang Q, Zhu X, Liu M, Fan X, Kong J. Untethered Soft Microrobots with Adaptive Logic Gates. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206662. [PMID: 36809583 PMCID: PMC10161047 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Integrating adaptative logic computation directly into soft microrobots is imperative for the next generation of intelligent soft microrobots as well as for the smart materials to move beyond stimulus-response relationships and toward the intelligent behaviors seen in biological systems. Acquiring adaptivity is coveted for soft microrobots that can adapt to implement different works and respond to different environments either passively or actively through human intervention like biological systems. Here, a novel and simple strategy for constructing untethered soft microrobots based on stimuli-responsive hydrogels that can switch logic gates according to the surrounding stimuli of environment is introduced. Different basic logic gates and combinational logic gates are integrated into a microrobot via a straightforward method. Importantly, two kinds of soft microrobots with adaptive logic gates are designed and fabricated, which can smartly switch logic operation between AND gate and OR gate under different surrounding environmental stimuli. Furthermore, a same magnetic microrobot with adaptive logic gate is used to capture and release the specified objects through the change of the surrounding environmental stimuli based on AND or OR logic gate. This work contributes an innovative strategy to integrate computation into small-scale untethered soft robots with adaptive logic gates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zichao Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry in Extraordinary Conditions, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry in Extraordinary Conditions, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Yang Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry in Extraordinary Conditions, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Ziyi Fang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry in Extraordinary Conditions, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, P. R. China
| | - He Jiang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry in Extraordinary Conditions, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Qinglin Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry in Extraordinary Conditions, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Xuefeng Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry in Extraordinary Conditions, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Mingze Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry in Extraordinary Conditions, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Xiaodong Fan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry in Extraordinary Conditions, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Jie Kong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry in Extraordinary Conditions, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, P. R. China
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27
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Zhang D, Tang Y, He X, Gross W, Yang J, Zheng J. Bilayer Hydrogels by Reactive-Induced Macrophase Separation. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:598-604. [PMID: 37067778 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Bilayer hydrogels encoded with smart functions have emerged as promising soft materials for engineered biological tissues and human-machine interfaces, due to the versatility and flexibility in designing their mechanical and chemical properties. However, conventional fabrication strategies often require multiple complicated steps to create an anisotropic bilayer structure with poor interfaces, which significantly limit the scope of bilayer hydrogel applications. Here, we reported a general, one-pot, macrophase separation strategy to fabricate a family of bilayer hydrogels made of vinyl and styryl monomers with a seamless interface and a controllable layer separation efficiency (20-99%). The working principle of a macrophase separation strategy allows for the decoupling of the two gelation processes to form distinct vinyl- and styryl-enriched layers by manipulating competitive polymerization reactions between vinyl and styryl monomers. This work presents a straightforward approach and a diverse range of radical monomers, which can be utilized to create next-generation bilayer hydrogels, beyond a few available today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Yijing Tang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Xiaomin He
- Hangzhou Singclean Medical Products Co., Ltd. Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - William Gross
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Jintao Yang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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28
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Li Y, Wang J, Guo J, Fu C, Huang L, Chen L, Ni Y, Zheng Q. UV and IR dual light triggered cellulose-based invisible actuators with high sensitivity. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 238:124031. [PMID: 36933599 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Actuators are widely used in bionic devices and soft robots, among which invisible actuators have some unique applications, including performing secret missions. In this paper, highly visible transparent cellulose-based UV-absorbing films were prepared by dissolving cellulose raw materials using N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) and using ZnO nanoparticles as UV absorbers. Furthermore, transparent actuator was fabricated by growing highly transparent and hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film on regenerated cellulose (RC)-ZnO composite film. In addition to its sensitive response to Infrared (IR) light, the as-prepared actuator also shows a highly sensitive response to UV light, which is attributed to the strong absorption of UV light by ZnO NPs. Thanks to the drastic differences in adsorption capacity between the RC-ZnO and PTFE materials for water molecules, the asymmetrically- assembled actuator demonstrates extremely high sensitivity and excellent actuation performance, with a force density of 60.5, a maximum bending curvature of 3.0 cm-1, and a response time of below 8 s. Bionic bug, smart door and the arm of excavator made from the actuator all exhibit sensitive responses to UV and IR lights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinan Li
- College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China; National Forestry & Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China; National Forestry & Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiajia Guo
- College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China; National Forestry & Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenglong Fu
- College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China; National Forestry & Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Liulian Huang
- College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China; National Forestry & Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Lihui Chen
- College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China; National Forestry & Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonghao Ni
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada.
| | - Qinghong Zheng
- College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China; National Forestry & Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China.
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29
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Hu J, Nie Z, Wang M, Liu Z, Huang S, Yang H. Springtail-inspired Light-driven Soft Jumping Robots Based on Liquid Crystal Elastomers with Monolithic Three-leaf Panel Fold Structure. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202218227. [PMID: 36624053 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Jump is an important form of motion that enables animals to escape from predators, increase their range of activities, and better adapt to the environment. Inspired by springtails, we describe a light-driven soft jumping robot based on a double-folded liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) ribbon actuator with a monolithic three-leaf panel fold structure. This robot can achieve remarkable jumping height, jumping distance, and maximum take-off velocity, of up to 87 body length (BL), 65 BL, and 930 BL s-1 , respectively, under near-infrared light irradiation. Further, it is possible to control the height, distance, and direction of jump by changing the size and crease angle of the double-folded LCE ribbon actuators. These robots can efficiently jump over obstacles and can jump continuously, even in complex environments. Our simple design strategy improves the performance of jumping actuators and we expect it to have a wide-ranging impact on the strength, continuity, and adaptability of future soft robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Hu
- Institute of Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, and Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189 (P. R. of, China
| | - Zhenzhou Nie
- Institute of Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, and Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189 (P. R. of, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Institute of Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, and Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189 (P. R. of, China
| | - Zhiyang Liu
- Institute of Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, and Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189 (P. R. of, China
| | - Shuai Huang
- Institute of Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, and Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189 (P. R. of, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Institute of Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, and Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189 (P. R. of, China
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30
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Wei X, Wu Q, Chen L, Sun Y, Chen L, Zhang C, Li S, Ma C, Jiang S. Remotely Controlled Light/Electric/Magnetic Multiresponsive Hydrogel for Fast Actuations. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:10030-10043. [PMID: 36779704 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c22831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As a kind of soft smart material, hydrogel actuators have extensive development prospects, but it is still difficult for these actuators to integrate multiresponsiveness, multiple remote actuation, high strength, fast responsiveness, and programmable complex deformation. Herein, we have explored an anisotropic bilayer hydrogel actuator with an Fe3O4/co-poly(isopropylacrylamide-4-benzoylphenyl acrylate) [Fe3O4/P(NIPAM-ABP)] active layer and an isotropic conductive adhesive (ICAs) passive layer based on the layer-by-layer method. Benefiting from the fibrosis and porosity of the Fe3O4/P(NIPAM-ABP) hydrogel, the ICAs-Fe3O4/P(NIPAM-ABP) hydrogel actuator has excellent mechanical strength (tensile strength of 3.1 ± 0.3 MPa) and response speed (temperature (45 °C): bending speed of 2400.3°/s; near-infrared (NIR) light: bending speed of 356.4°/s; electricity (2 V): bending speed of 180°/s; water (10 °C): recovery speed of 30.0°/s). In addition, the good photothermal properties and magnetic conductivity of Fe3O4 nanoparticles provide precise remotely controllable light- and magnetic-actuated properties for the hydrogel actuator. The Ag microsheets with excellent conductivity (1.4 × 104 S/cm) provide remotely controllable electrical-actuated property for the hydrogel actuator. Combined with the responsiveness of P(NIPAM-ABP), the actuator can achieve short-range actuation including temperature-, ethanol-, and salt-responses. More importantly, it can achieve remote actuation including light, electrical, and magnetic responses. Finally, the Fe3O4/P(NIPAM-ABP) fibers can provide excellent anisotropic structures for the actuator to achieve precise deformational programmability. Inspired by some phenomena in nature, several actuating devices with the above characteristics have been successfully developed. This study can provide a general method for multifunctional anisotropic hydrogel actuators and will provide a new strategy for exploring smart materials suitable for complex bioinspired systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianshuo Wei
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Qijun Wu
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Lian Chen
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Ye Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Chunmei Zhang
- Institute of Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Chunxin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
- Key Laboratory of quality safe evaluation and research of degradable material for State Market Regulation, Products Quality Supervision and Testing Institute of Hainan Province, Haikou 570203, China
| | - Shaohua Jiang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
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31
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Hao XP, Zhang CW, Hong W, Meng M, Hou LX, Du M, Zheng Q, Wu ZL. Engineering viscoelastic mismatch for temporal morphing of tough supramolecular hydrogels. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:432-442. [PMID: 36606414 DOI: 10.1039/d2mh01339h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Viscoelasticity is a generic characteristic of soft biotissues and polymeric materials, endowing them with unique time- and rate-dependent properties. Here, by spatiotemporally tailoring the viscoelasticity in tough supramolecular hydrogels, we demonstrate reprogrammable morphing of the gels based on differential viscoelastic recovery processes that lead to internal strain mismatch. The spatial heterogeneity of viscoelasticity is encoded through integrating dissimilar hydrogels or by site-specific treatment of a singular hydrogel. The temporal morphing behavior of tough gels, including a fast deformation process and then a slow shape-recovery process, is related to the kinetics of associative interactions and the entropic elasticity of supramolecular networks after pre-stretching and release, which takes place spontaneously in the absence of external stimuli. Such a kinetically driven morphing mechanism resolves the trade-off between the mechanical robustness and shape-changing speed in tough hydrogels with dense entanglements and physical associations, and should be applicable to other viscoelastic materials. A numerical theory for the temporal morphing of tough supramolecular gels has been formulated by dynamic coupling of viscoelastic recovery and mechanics of deformations, which is further implemented to predict the sophisticated morphed structures. Furthermore, magnetic particles are incorporated into the morphed tough hydrogels to devise versatile soft actuators and robots for specific applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Peng Hao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Chuan Wei Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Wei Hong
- Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Meng Meng
- Design Informatics, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JS, UK
| | - Li Xin Hou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Miao Du
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Qiang Zheng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Zi Liang Wu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
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32
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Liu E, Xia X, Chen Q, Xu S. Gradient hydrogel actuator with fast response and self-recovery in air. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:560-564. [PMID: 36598010 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb02471c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The driving principle of a thermal-responsive hydrogel that loses water at high temperature and absorbs water at low temperature limits its application in an aqueous environment. Here, a gradient hydrogel actuator was developed by introducing sodium hyaluronate into poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel by an asymmetric mold method. The hydrogel exhibited a fast response above the LCST in air and unusual self-recovery without the need for further temperature stimuli. The actuation behavior was related to conversion from free water to bound water and water retention within the gradient matrix. The self-recovery mechanism was explored. This work provides a new insight into designing bionic hydrogels applied in a non-aqueous environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Xuehuan Xia
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Qiuyue Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Shimei Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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33
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Zheng Z, Wang H, Demir SO, Huang Q, Fukuda T, Sitti M. Programmable aniso-electrodeposited modular hydrogel microrobots. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eade6135. [PMID: 36516247 PMCID: PMC9750151 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade6135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Systems with programmable and complex shape morphing are highly desired in many fields wherein sensing, actuation, and manipulation must be performed. Living organisms use nonuniform distributions of their body structural composition to achieve diverse shape morphing, motion, and functionality. However, for the microrobot fabrication, these designs often involve complicated robotic architectures requiring time-consuming and arduous fabrication processes. This paper proposes a single-step aniso-electrodeposition method for fabricating modular microrobots (MMRs) with distinct functions in each modular segment. By programming the electric field, the microscale stripe-shaped structure can be endowed with diverse shape-morphing capabilities, such as spiraling, twisting, bending, and coiling. The proposed fabrication method can develop MMRs with multiple independent modules onto which cells, drugs, and magnetic nanoparticles can be loaded to achieve multifunctionality. Thus, MMRs can perform multiple tasks, such as propulsion, grasping, and object delivery, simultaneously under magnetic control and ionic and pH stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zheng
- Intelligent Robotics Institute, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
| | - Huaping Wang
- Intelligent Robotics Institute, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Sinan Ozgun Demir
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
| | - Qiang Huang
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100081, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Toshio Fukuda
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
- School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
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34
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Rong L, Zhao W, Fan Y, Zhou Z, Zhan M, He X, Yuan W, Qian C. Environmentally Stable, Stretchable, Adhesive, and Conductive Organohydrogels with Multiple Dynamic Interactions as High-Performance Strain and Temperature Sensors. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:55075-55087. [PMID: 36455289 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c16919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, conductive hydrogel-based sensors play an increasingly vital role in health monitoring and temperature sensing. However, the perfect integration of the environmental stability and applied performance of the hydrogel has always been a challenging and significant problem. Herein, we report an environmentally tolerant, stretchable, adhesive, self-healing conductive gel through multiple dynamic interactions in the water/glycerol/ionic liquids medium, which can be used as a high-performance strain and temperature sensor. The random copolymer poly(acrylic acid-co-acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate) interacts with the branched poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) and Zr4+ ions via the dynamic covalent enamine bonds, coordinations, and electrostatic interactions to improve stretchable (1300%), compressible, fatigue-resistant (1000 cycles at 50% strain), and self-healing performance (95%, 24 h). The combination of water/glycerol/ionic liquids imparts the resulting gel with excellent electrical conductivity, anti-drying, and anti-freezing performance. By means of the above excellent performance, the gel could be used as the flexible strain or pressure sensor with high sensitivity and stability for the detection of the movement, expression, handwriting, pronouncing, and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals in various models. Meanwhile, the resulting gel can be assembled as the temperature sensor to trace the change of temperature accurately and steadily, which has a wide operating window (0 to 100 °C), an ultralow detection limit (0.2 °C), and high sensitivity (2.1% °C-1). It is believed that the strategy for the multifunction and high-performance gel will blaze a new trail for the smart device in health management, temperature detection, and information transmission under various environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liduo Rong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai519000, P. R. China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai519000, P. R. China
| | - Yu Fan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai201804, P. R. China
| | - Zixuan Zhou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai201804, P. R. China
| | - Meixiao Zhan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai519000, P. R. China
| | - Xu He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai519000, P. R. China
| | - Weizhong Yuan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai201804, P. R. China
| | - Chunhua Qian
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai200072, P. R. China
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35
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Zhang Y, Li P, Zhang K, Wang X. Temporary Actuation of Bilayer Polymer Hydrogels Mediated by the Enzymatic Reaction. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:15433-15441. [PMID: 36459698 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Most soft actuators have the ability of monotonic responsiveness. That is, there is only one response action after being stimulated once. In this work, a temporarily responsive bilayer hydrogel actuator is designed and fabricated by combining a tertiary amine-containing pH-responsive layer and a urease-containing non-responsive layer. The hydrogel actuator can achieve programed deformation and recovery driven by chemical fuels (i.e., acidic urea solutions), which is essentially regulated by rapid acidification and slow enzymatic production of ammonia for recovering the pH of the system. The actuation extent and duration can be simply controlled by the fuel levels, and the repeated actuations are also possible via refueling. Furthermore, we fabricate several hydrogel devices that can display specific patterns or lift an item. This enzymatic method shows new possibilities to control the temporary actuation of polymer hydrogels potentially useful in many fields such as soft robotics, biomimetic devices, and environmental sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhi Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan250100, Shandong, China
| | - Panpan Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan250100, Shandong, China
| | - Kaiqiang Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan250100, Shandong, China
| | - Xu Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan250100, Shandong, China
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36
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Chen P, Ruan Q, Nasseri R, Zhang H, Xi X, Xia H, Xu G, Xie Q, Yi C, Sun Z, Shahsavan H, Zhang W. Light-Fueled Hydrogel Actuators with Controlled Deformation and Photocatalytic Activity. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2204730. [PMID: 36253140 PMCID: PMC9731706 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202204730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogel actuators have shown great promise in underwater robotic applications as they can generate controllable shape transformations upon stimulation due to their ability to absorb and release water reversibly. Herein, a photoresponsive anisotropic hydrogel actuator is developed from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and gold-decorated carbon nitride (Au/g-C3 N4 ) nanoparticles. Carbon nitride nanoparticles endow hydrogel actuators with photocatalytic properties, while their reorientation and mobility driven by the electrical field provide anisotropic properties to the surrounding network. A variety of light-fueled soft robotic functionalities including controllable and programmable shape-change, gripping, and locomotion is elicited. A responsive flower-like photocatalytic reactor is also fabricated, for water splitting, which maximizes its energy-harvesting efficiency, that is, hydrogen generation rate of 1061.82 µmol g-1 h-1 , and the apparent quantum yield of 8.55% at 400 nm, by facing its light-receiving area adaptively towards the light. The synergy between photoactive and photocatalytic properties of this hydrogel portrays a new perspective for the design of underwater robotic and photocatalytic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Qiushi Ruan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Rasool Nasseri
- Department of Chemical Engineering, and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Hanning Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Xufeng Xi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Huan Xia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Gang Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Qian Xie
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Chengjie Yi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China
| | - ZhengMing Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Hamed Shahsavan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Wei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China
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37
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Li T, Liu Z, Hu J, Chen L, Chen T, Tang Q, Yu B, Zhao B, Mao C, Wan M. A Universal Chemotactic Targeted Delivery Strategy for Inflammatory Diseases. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2206654. [PMID: 36122571 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Above 50% of deaths can be attributed to chronic inflammatory diseases; thus, the construction of drug delivery systems based on effective interaction of inflammatory factors with chemotactic nanoparticles is meaningful. Herein, a zwitterion-based artificial chemotactic nanomotor is proposed for universal precise targeting strategy in vivo, where the high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in inflammatory sites are used as a chemoattractant. Multidimensional static models, dynamic models, and in vivo models are established to evaluate chemotactic performance. The results show that the upregulated ROS and iNOS can induce the chemotaxis of nanomotors to diseased tissues in inflammation-related disease models. Further, mesoscale hydrodynamics simulations are performed to explain the chemotactic behavior of the nanomotors. Such a chemotactic delivery strategy is expected to improve delivery efficiency and may be applicable to a variety of inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jinglei Hu
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Lin Chen
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Tiantian Chen
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qianqian Tang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Bixia Yu
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Bo Zhao
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Chun Mao
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mimi Wan
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
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38
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Tu CM, Chao CH, Hung SC, Ou SY, Zhuang CH, Liu CY. Bio-inspired thermal responsible liquid crystal actuators showing shape and color variations simultaneously. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2022.104536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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39
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Tang Y, Li M, Wang T, Dong X, Hu W, Sitti M. Wireless Miniature Magnetic Phase-Change Soft Actuators. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2204185. [PMID: 35975467 PMCID: PMC7613683 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202204185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Wireless miniature soft actuators are promising for various potential high-impact applications in medical, robotic grippers, and artificial muscles. However, these miniature soft actuators are currently constrained by a small output force and low work capacity. To address such challenges, a miniature magnetic phase-change soft composite actuator is reported. This soft actuator exhibits an expanding deformation and enables up to a 70 N output force and 175.2 J g-1 work capacity under remote magnetic radio frequency heating, which are 106 -107 times that of traditional magnetic soft actuators. To demonstrate its capabilities, a wireless soft robotic device is first designed that can withstand 0.24 m s-1 fluid flows in an artery phantom. By integrating it with a thermally-responsive shape-memory polymer and bistable metamaterial sleeve, a wireless reversible bistable stent is designed toward future potential angioplasty applications. Moreover, it can additionally locomote inside and jump out of granular media. At last, the phase-change actuator can realize programmable bending deformations when a specifically designed magnetization profile is encoded, enhancing its shape-programming capability. Such a miniature soft actuator provides an approach to enhance the mechanical output and versatility of magnetic soft robots and devices, extending their medical and other potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichao Tang
- School of Mechanical Engineering Tongji University Shanghai 201804, China; Physical Intelligence Department Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Mingtong Li
- Physical Intelligence Department Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 70569, Stuttgart, Germany; Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices Soochow University Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Tianlu Wang
- Physical Intelligence Department Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 70569, Stuttgart, Germany; Institute for Biomedical Engineering ETH Zurich Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Xiaoguang Dong
- Physical Intelligence Department Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 70569, Stuttgart, Germany; of Mechanical Engineering Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 37215, USA; Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 37215, USA
| | - Wenqi Hu
- Physical Intelligence Department Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 70569, Stuttgart, Germany; Institute for Biomedical Engineering ETH Zurich Zurich 8092, Switzerland; School of Medicine and College of Engineering Koç University Istanbul 34450, Turkey
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40
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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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41
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Bhattacharjee A, Jabbarzadeh M, Kararsiz G, Fu HC, Kim MJ. Bacteria-inspired magnetically actuated rod-like soft robot in viscous fluids. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2022; 17:065001. [PMID: 35926485 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ac870f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This paper seeks to design, develop, and explore the locomotive dynamics and morphological adaptability of a bacteria-inspired rod-like soft robot propelled in highly viscous Newtonian fluids. The soft robots were fabricated as tapered, hollow rod-like soft scaffolds by applying a robust and economic molding technique to a polyacrylamide-based hydrogel polymer. Cylindrical micro-magnets were embedded in both ends of the soft scaffolds, which allowed bending (deformation) and actuation under a uniform rotating magnetic field. We demonstrated that the tapered rod-like soft robot in viscous Newtonian fluids could perform two types of propulsion; boundary rolling was displayed when the soft robot was located near a boundary, and swimming was displayed far away from the boundary. In addition, we performed numerical simulations to understand the swimming propulsion along the rotating axis and the way in which this propulsion is affected by the soft robot's design, rotation frequency, and fluid viscosity. Our results suggest that a simple geometrical asymmetry enables the rod-like soft robot to perform propulsion in the low Reynolds number (Re≪ 1) regime; these promising results provide essential insights into the improvements that must be made to integrate the soft robots into minimally invasivein vivoapplications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuruddha Bhattacharjee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75205, United States of America
| | - Mehdi Jabbarzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
| | - Gokhan Kararsiz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75205, United States of America
| | - Henry C Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
| | - Min Jun Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75205, United States of America
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42
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Hong C, Ren Z, Wang C, Li M, Wu Y, Tang D, Hu W, Sitti M. Magnetically actuated gearbox for the wireless control of millimeter-scale robots. Sci Robot 2022; 7:eabo4401. [PMID: 36044558 DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.abo4401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The limited force or torque outputs of miniature magnetic actuators constrain the locomotion performances and functionalities of magnetic millimeter-scale robots. Here, we present a magnetically actuated gearbox with a maximum size of 3 millimeters for driving wireless millirobots. The gearbox is assembled using microgears that have reference diameters down to 270 micrometers and are made of aluminum-filled epoxy resins through casting. With a magnetic disk attached to the input shaft, the gearbox can be driven by a rotating external magnetic field, which is not more than 6.8 millitesla, to produce torque of up to 0.182 millinewton meters at 40 hertz. The corresponding torque and power densities are 12.15 micronewton meters per cubic millimeter and 8.93 microwatt per cubic millimeter, respectively. The transmission efficiency of the gearbox in the air is between 25.1 and 29.2% at actuation frequencies ranging from 1 to 40 hertz, and it lowers when the gearbox is actuated in viscous liquids. This miniature gearbox can be accessed wirelessly and integrated with various functional modules to repeatedly generate large actuation forces, strains, and speeds; store energy in elastic components; and lock up mechanical linkages. These characteristics enable us to achieve a peristaltic robot that can crawl on a flat substrate or inside a tube, a jumping robot with a tunable jumping height, a clamping robot that can sample solid objects by grasping, a needle-puncture robot that can take samples from the inside of the target, and a syringe robot that can collect or release liquids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Hong
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.,State Key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Ziyu Ren
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.,Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Che Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Mingtong Li
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Yingdan Wu
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Dewei Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Wenqi Hu
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.,Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.,School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Koç University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
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43
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Gosden D, Diteesawat RS, Studley M, Rossiter J. Saltwater-responsive bubble artificial muscles using superabsorbent polymers. Front Robot AI 2022; 9:960372. [PMID: 36105764 PMCID: PMC9464983 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2022.960372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Robots operating in changing underwater environments may be required to adapt to these varying conditions. In tidal estuaries, for example, where the degree of salinity cycles in step with the level of the water, a robot may need to adapt its behaviour depending on the position of the tide. In freshwater bodies, the unexpected presence of a pollutant may also require the robot to respond by altering its behaviour. Embodying this sensing and response in the body of the robot means that adaptivity to the environment can be achieved without resorting to centralised control. This can also allow direct responsivity using ‘free’ environmental energy, actuating without requiring stored onboard energy. In this work we present a soft artificial muscle, the contraction of which varies in response to the salinity the water surrounding it. The novel actuator uses a super-absorbent polymer gel encapsulated within a series of discrete cells. This gel readily absorbs water through the membrane wall of the actuator, and can swell to over 300 times its initial volume. This swelling generates significant pressure, changing the shape of the cells and driving the contraction of the muscle. The degree of swelling is significantly reduced by the presence of salts and pollutants in the surrounding water, so transitioning from a freshwater to a saltwater environment causes the muscle to relax. In this paper, we discuss the design and fabrication of these superabsorbent polymer-based Bubble Artificial Muscle (SAP-BAM) actuators. The tensile properties of the muscle under actuated (fresh water) and relaxed (salt water) conditions are characterised, showing a maximum generated force of 10.96N. The length response under constant load for a full actuation cycle is given, showing a maximum contraction of 27.5% of the initial length at 1N load, and the performance over repeated actuation and relaxation cycles is shown. The SAP-BAM muscles are straightforward to fabricate and are composed of low-cost, freely-available materials. Many existing pneumatically-actuated muscles can be modified to use the approach taken for this muscle. The muscle presented in this work represents the first example of a new class of super-absorbent polymer-driven environmental soft artificial muscles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gosden
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Daniel Gosden,
| | | | - Matthew Studley
- Department of Engineering Design and Mathematics, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Rossiter
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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44
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Yang W, Qiang Y, Du M, Cao Y, Wang Y, Zhang X, Yue T, Huang J, Li Z. Self-propelled nanomotors based on hierarchical metal-organic framework composites for the removal of heavy metal ions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 435:128967. [PMID: 35483266 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The outstanding performance efficiency for the removal of heavy metal ions in solution is governed by various factors: (a) sufficient contact probability between heavy metal ions and the adsorbent, (b) convenient diffusion/accessibility of heavy metal ions to the surface and the interior of the adsorbent, and (c) abundant binding sites for heavy metal ions on the adsorbent. We designed an efficient MnFe2O4 @MIL-53 @UiO-66 @MnO2 adsorbent for Pb(II) and Cd(II) removal. The adsorbents were fabricated by merging self-propelled nanomotors, exploiting hierarchical structure, and using a metal-organic framework (MOF) composite to simultaneously meet the three requirements. The sufficient contact probability between Pb(II)/Cd(II) and MnFe2O4 @MIL-53 @UiO-66 @MnO2 was achieved via the self-propelled movement of MnFe2O4 @MIL-53 @UiO-66 @MnO2 which was induced by the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 by MnO2. The convenient diffusion/accessibility of Pb(II)/Cd(II) on the surface and interior of MnFe2O4 @MIL-53 @UiO-66 @MnO2 was achieved by exploiting the properties of the hierarchical structure of MnFe2O4 @MIL-53 @UiO-66 @MnO2. Abundant binding sites (-COOH) on MIL-53 and UiO-66 composites were present for the binding of the Pb(II)/Cd(II) ions to the adsorbent. The adsorption capacities of the nanomotor adsorbent for Pb(II) and Cd(II) were 1018 and 440.8 mg g-1 at 25 °C, respectively. Additionally, the complex formed of MnFe2O4 and MIL-53 endowed the adsorbent with easy-recyclable properties under the influence of an external magnet. The nanomotors exhibit satisfactory removal performances for Pb(II) and Cd(II).
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixia Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Food and Pharmacy College, Xuchang University, Henan 461000, PR China
| | - Yu Qiang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Mengshuo Du
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Youyu Cao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Yingying Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Xiaoshuo Zhang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Tianli Yue
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products (Yangling), Ministry of Agriculture, Yang Ling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Jihong Huang
- Food and Pharmacy College, Xuchang University, Henan 461000, PR China.
| | - Zhonghong Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products (Yangling), Ministry of Agriculture, Yang Ling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
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45
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Self-Jumping of a Liquid Crystal Elastomer Balloon under Steady Illumination. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14142770. [PMID: 35890544 PMCID: PMC9319439 DOI: 10.3390/polym14142770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-oscillation capable of maintaining periodic motion upon constant stimulus has potential applications in the fields of autonomous robotics, energy-generation devices, mechano-logistic devices, sensors, and so on. Inspired by the active jumping of kangaroos and frogs in nature, we proposed a self-jumping liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) balloon under steady illumination. Based on the balloon contact model and dynamic LCE model, a nonlinear dynamic model of a self-jumping LCE balloon under steady illumination was formulated and numerically calculated by the Runge–Kutta method. The results indicated that there exist two typical motion regimes for LCE balloon under steady illumination: the static regime and the self-jumping regime. The self-jumping of LCE balloon originates from its expansion during contact with a rigid surface, and the self-jumping can be maintained by absorbing light energy to compensate for the damping dissipation. In addition, the critical conditions for triggering self-jumping and the effects of several key system parameters on its frequency and amplitude were investigated in detail. The self-jumping LCE hollow balloon with larger internal space has greater potential to carry goods or equipment, and may open a new insight into the development of mobile robotics, soft robotics, sensors, controlled drug delivery, and other miniature device applications.
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46
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Xiang Y, Li B, Li B, Bao L, Sheng W, Ma Y, Ma S, Yu B, Zhou F. Toward a Multifunctional Light-Driven Biomimetic Mudskipper-Like Robot for Various Application Scenarios. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:20291-20302. [PMID: 35442618 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c03852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The systematicness, flexibility, and complexity of natural biological organisms are a constant stream of inspiration for researchers. Therefore, mimicking the natural intelligence system to develop microrobotics has attracted broad interests. However, developing a multifunctional device for various application scenarios has great challenges. Herein, we present a bionic multifunctional actuation device─a light-driven mudskipper-like actuator that is composed of a porous silicone elastomer and graphene oxide. The actuator exhibits a reversible and well-integrated response to near-infrared (NIR) light due to the photothermal-induced contractile stress in the actuation film, which promotes generation of cyclical and rapid locomotion upon NIR light being switched on and off, such as bending in air and crawling in liquid. Furthermore, through rational device design and modulation of light, the mechanically versatile device can float and swim controllably following a predesigned route at the liquid/air interface. More interestingly, the actuator can jump from liquid medium to air with an extremely short response time (400 ms), a maximum speed of 2 m s-1, and a height of 14.3 cm under the stimulation of near-infrared light. The present work possesses great potential in the applications of bioinspired actuators in various fields, such as microrobots, sensors, and locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Advanced Materials and Green Manufacturing, Yantai 264000, China
| | - Bin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Bianhong Li
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Luyao Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Wenbo Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yanfei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shuanhong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Bo Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
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47
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Zhang J, Zheng L, Wu Z, Wang L, Li Y. Thermoresponsive bilayer hydrogel with switchable bending directions as soft actuator. POLYMER 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2022.124998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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48
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Abstract
Plant cells inspire a hydrogel actuator that achieves ultrastrong and fast actuation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Jiang
- Centre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central, QLD 4300, Australia
| | - Pingan Song
- Centre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central, QLD 4300, Australia.,School of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central, QLD 4300, Australia
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49
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Eristoff S, Kim SY, Sanchez-Botero L, Buckner T, Yirmibeşoğlu OD, Kramer-Bottiglio R. Soft Actuators Made of Discrete Grains. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2109617. [PMID: 35170820 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202109617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Recent work has demonstrated the potential of actuators consisting of bulk elastomers with phase-changing inclusions for generating high forces and large volumetric expansions. Simultaneously, granular assemblies have been shown to enable tunable properties via different packings, dynamic moduli via jamming, and compatibility with various printing methods via suspension in carrier fluids. Herein, granular actuators are introduced, which represent a new class of soft actuators made of discrete grains. The soft grains consist of a hyperelastic shell and multiple solvent cores. Upon heating, the encapsulated solvent cores undergo liquid-to-gas phase change, inducing rapid and strong volumetric expansion of the hyperelastic shell up to 700%. The grains can be used independently for micro-actuation, or in granular agglomerates for meso- and macroscale actuation, demonstrating the scalability of the granular actuators. Furthermore, the active grains can be suspended in a carrier resin or solvent to enable printable soft actuators via established granular material processing techniques. By combining the advantages of phase-change soft actuation and granularity, this work presents the opportunity to realize soft actuators with tunable bulk properties, compatibility with self-assembly techniques, and on-demand reconfigurability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Eristoff
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, 9 Hillhouse Ave., New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Sang Yup Kim
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, 9 Hillhouse Ave., New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Lina Sanchez-Botero
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, 9 Hillhouse Ave., New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Trevor Buckner
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, 9 Hillhouse Ave., New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Osman Doğan Yirmibeşoğlu
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, 9 Hillhouse Ave., New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, 9 Hillhouse Ave., New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
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50
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Liu Y, Zhang Y, Wang J, Yang H, Zhou J, Zhao W. Doxorubicin-Loaded Walnut-Shaped Polydopamine Nanomotor for Photothermal-Chemotherapy of Cancer. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:726-735. [PMID: 35312294 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The combination of photothermal therapy and chemical drug therapy shows good prospects in cancer treatment, but there are also some limitations such as low permeability of therapeutic agents and uneven photothermal therapy. Here, we synthesized a walnut-shaped polydopamine (PDA) nanomotor driven by near infrared (NIR) light. The nanomotor was modified by methoxy polyethylene glycol amine (mPEG-NH2) for improving water solubility. PDA-PEG loaded adriamycin through π-π accumulation and hydrogen bonding. The experimental results showed that the PDA nanomotors had good biocompatibility and photothermal effect. Further, the NIR light irradiation and tumor cell microenvironment are conducive to drug release. In addition, under the irradiation of an NIR laser, the asymmetry of walnut-shaped nanoparticles makes the particles obtain the ability of autonomous movement, which can improve the permeability of particles in 3D tumor balls, which can provide support for drug penetration and heat dispersion. This strategy offers potential innovative materials for photothermal/chemotherapy synergistic therapy of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhong Liu
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.,College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Applied Photochemistry, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yawen Zhang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jingzhi Wang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hongna Yang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiahong Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Applied Photochemistry, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Wenbo Zhao
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
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