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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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Jiang Y, Zhu C, Ma X, Fan D. Janus hydrogels: merging boundaries in tissue engineering for enhanced biomaterials and regenerative therapies. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:2504-2520. [PMID: 38529571 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm01875j] [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: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, the design and synthesis of Janus hydrogels have witnessed a thriving development, overcoming the limitations of single-performance materials and expanding their potential applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Janus hydrogels, with their exceptional mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility, have emerged as promising candidates for various biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and regenerative therapies. In this review, we present the latest progress in the synthesis of Janus hydrogels using commonly employed preparation methods. We elucidate the surface and interface interactions of these hydrogels and discuss the enhanced properties bestowed by the unique "Janus" structure in biomaterials. Additionally, we explore the applications of Janus hydrogels in facilitating regenerative therapies, such as drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, and biosensing. Furthermore, we analyze the challenges and future trends associated with the utilization of Janus hydrogels in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxue Jiang
- Engineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials and Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Chenhui Zhu
- Engineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials and Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Ma
- Engineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials and Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Daidi Fan
- Engineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials and Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
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Maslen C, Gholamipour-Shirazi A, Butler MD, Kropacek J, Rehor I, Montenegro-Johnson T. A New Class of Single-Material, Non-Reciprocal Microactuators. Macromol Rapid Commun 2023; 44:e2200842. [PMID: 36515359 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200842] [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: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A crucial component in designing soft actuating structures with controllable shape changes is programming internal, mismatching stresses. In this work, a new paradigm for achieving anisotropic dynamics between isotropic end-states-yielding a non-reciprocal shrinking/swelling response over a full actuation cycle-in a microscale actuator made of a single material, purely through microscale design is demonstrated. Anisotropic dynamics is achieved by incorporating micro-sized pores into certain segments of the structures; by arranging porous and non-porous segments (specifically, struts) into a 2D hexagonally-shaped microscopic poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) hydrogel particle, the rate of isotropic shrinking/swelling in the structure is locally modulated, generating global anisotropic, non-reciprocal, dynamics. A simple mathematical model is introduced that reveals the physics that underlies these dynamics. This design has the potential to be used as a foundational tool for inducing non-reciprocal actuation cycles with a single material structure, and enables new possibilities in producing customized soft actuators and modular anisotropic metamaterials for a range of real-world applications, such as artificial cilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Maslen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, 166 28, Czech Republic
| | | | - Matthew D Butler
- School of Mathematics, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Jindrich Kropacek
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Rehor
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, 166 28, Czech Republic
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nam. 2, Prague, 160 00, Czech Republic
| | - Thomas Montenegro-Johnson
- School of Mathematics, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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Yang Y, Sha L, Zhao H, Guo Z, Wu M, Lu P. Recent advances in cellulose microgels: Preparations and functionalized applications. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 311:102815. [PMID: 36427465 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102815] [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: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Microgels are soft, deformable, permeable, and stimuli-responsive microscopic polymeric particles that are now emerging as prospective multifunctional soft materials for delivery systems, interface stabilization, cell cultures and tissue engineering. Cellulose microgels are emerging biopolymeric microgels with unique characteristics such as abound hydroxyl structure, admirable designability, multiscale pore network and excellent biocompatibility. This review summarizes the fabrication strategies for microgel, then highlights the fabrication routes for cellulose microgels, and finally elaborates cellulose microgels' bright application prospects with unique characteristics in the fields of controlled release, interface stabilization, coating, purification, nutrition/drug delivery, and bio-fabrication. The challenges to be addressed for further applications and considerable scope for development in future of cellulose microgels are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Lishan Sha
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Han Zhao
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Zhaojun Guo
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Min Wu
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Peng Lu
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China.
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Biocompatible amphiphilic Janus nanoparticles with enhanced interfacial properties for colloidal surfactants. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 616:488-498. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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