Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
09:11
Alternating Magnetic Field-Responsive Hybrid Gelatin Microgels for Controlled Drug Release
Published on: February 13, 2016
10.3K
Shape Morphing of Hydrogels in Alternating Magnetic Field
Jingda Tang1, Qianfeng Yin1, Yancheng Qiao1
1State Key Lab for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Department of Engineering Mechanics , Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an 710049 , China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|May 24, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed magnetic hydrogels that change shape using alternating magnetic fields (AMF). This enables complex 3D structures and magnetic navigation for advanced applications in soft robotics and biomedical engineering.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Robotics
Background:
- Shape-morphing hydrogels are crucial for biomimetics, soft robotics, and biomedical engineering.
- Magnetic actuation is desirable due to its non-contact and biocompatible nature.
- Existing magnetic hydrogels lack sufficient magnetization for actuation under static magnetic fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a strategy for shape morphing in magnetic hydrogels.
- To actuate magnetothermal sensitive hydrogels using an alternating magnetic field (AMF).
- To enable complex 2D and 3D shape transformations and magnetic navigation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized magnetic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels sensitive to magnetothermal heating via AMF.
- Designed specific distribution patterns of magnetic hydrogel strips on elastomer substrates.
- Integrated magnetic navigation with shape morphing using both direct and alternating magnetic fields.
Main Results:
- Achieved giant volume shrinkage of magnetic hydrogels at high temperatures induced by AMF.
- Demonstrated the creation of various 2D and 3D shapes including heart-shape, truss, tube, and helix.
- Successfully created complex 3D origami structures using elastomer-magnetic hydrogel hinges.
- Showcased combined magnetic navigation and shape morphing capabilities.
Conclusions:
- The proposed strategy enables effective shape morphing of magnetic hydrogels via magnetothermal actuation.
- This approach facilitates the creation of complex 2D and 3D structures with potential for advanced applications.
- The combination of magnetic navigation and shape morphing opens new avenues for functional hydrogel development.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Magnetic Fields
7.2K
A moving charge or a current creates a magnetic field in the surrounding space, in addition to its electric field. The magnetic field exerts a force on any other moving charge or current that is present in the field. Like an electric field, the magnetic field is also a vector field. At any position, the direction of the magnetic field is defined as the direction in which the north pole of a compass needle points.
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
7.2K
01:18Magnetic Field of a Solenoid
5.7K
A solenoid is a conducting wire coated with an insulating material, wound tightly in the form of a helical coil. The magnetic field due to a solenoid is the vector sum of the magnetic fields due to its individual turns. Therefore, for an ideal solenoid, the magnetic field within the solenoid is directly proportional to the number of turns per unit length and the current. Conversely, the magnetic field outside the solenoid is zero.
Consider a solenoid with 100 turns wrapped around a cylinder of...
Consider a solenoid with 100 turns wrapped around a cylinder of...
5.7K
01:19Magnetic Field Lines
5.5K
The representation of magnetic fields by magnetic field lines is very useful in visualizing the strength and direction of the magnetic field. Each of the magnetic field lines forms a closed loop. The field lines emerge from the north pole (N), loop around to the south pole (S), and continue through the bar magnet back to the north pole.
Magnetic field lines follow several hard-and-fast rules:
Magnetic field lines follow several hard-and-fast rules:
5.5K
01:24Energy In A Magnetic Field
2.7K
If a magnetic field is sustained, there must be a current in a closed circuit or loop, implying some energy has been spent in creating the field. If this energy is not dissipated via the circuit's resistance, it is stored in the field.
Take an ideal inductor with zero resistance. Although it's practically impossible, assume that the coil's resistance is so small that it is practically negligible. The loss of the field's energy to dissipate thermal energy (or heat) is thus...
Take an ideal inductor with zero resistance. Although it's practically impossible, assume that the coil's resistance is so small that it is practically negligible. The loss of the field's energy to dissipate thermal energy (or heat) is thus...
2.7K
01:16Magnetic Field Of A Current Loop
6.3K
Consider a circular loop with a radius a, that carries a current I. The magnetic field due to the current at an arbitrary point P along the axis of the loop can be calculated using the Biot-Savart law.
6.3K
01:23Magnetic Field due to Moving Charges
11.6K
A stationary charge creates and interacts with the electric field, while a moving charge creates a magnetic field.
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
11.6K