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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Preparation of Hydroxy-PAAm Hydrogels for Decoupling the Effects of Mechanotransduction Cues

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Published on: August 28, 2014

Shape-Programmable Architectured Hydrogels Sensitive to Ultrasound.

Pengfei Zhang^1,2,3, Marc Behl^1,2, Maria Balk¹

¹Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Kantstr. 55, 14513, Teltow, Germany.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications

|February 11, 2020

Summary

New hydrogels move on demand using ultrasound. These shape-programmable materials, utilizing rhodium coordination in semi-interpenetrating polymer networks, offer potential for advanced switches and sensors.

Keywords:

cavitation-based mechanical force rhodium-phosphine coordination bonds semi-IPN hydrogels shape-memory effect

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Last Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Preparation of Hydroxy-PAAm Hydrogels for Decoupling the Effects of Mechanotransduction Cues

Preparation of Hydroxy-PAAm Hydrogels for Decoupling the Effects of Mechanotransduction Cues

Published on: August 28, 2014

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Published on: January 13, 2023

Controlled Strain of 3D Hydrogels under Live Microscopy Imaging

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Published on: December 4, 2020

Area of Science:

Polymer Science
Materials Science
Mechanochemistry

Background:

Highly swollen polymer systems typically respond to environmental stimuli like pH, ions, or heat for controlled motion.
Existing systems lack directed macroscopic movement capabilities triggered by external mechanical forces.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce shape-programmable hydrogels capable of directed macroscopic movement in response to ultrasonic-cavitation-based mechanical forces (CMF).
To integrate multiple functionalities including water swellability, ultrasound sensitivity, shape programmability, and shape-memory into a single material system.

Main Methods:

Development of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (s-IPN) incorporating rhodium coordination (Rh-s-IPNH) as temporary crosslinks.
Characterization of porous hydrogel properties, including degree of swelling, tensile strength, shape fixity, and shape recovery.

Main Results:

The Rh-s-IPNH hydrogels demonstrated a high degree of swelling (300 ± 10 to 680 ± 60) and significant tensile strength (up to 250 ± 60 kPa).
Achieved excellent shape fixity ratios (up to 90%) and shape recovery ratios (up to 94%), indicating robust shape-memory performance.
Successfully demonstrated directed macroscopic movements triggered by ultrasonic-cavitation-based mechanical forces.

Conclusions:

The developed semi-IPN hydrogels offer a novel platform for on-demand motion control using mechanical stimuli.
The integrated functionalities and robust performance suggest potential applications in advanced switches and mechanosensors.