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Bioinspired Shape Memory Hydrogel Artificial Muscles Driven by Solvents.

Yande Cui1, Dong Li1, Chen Gong1

  • 1College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Engineering Research Center of Natural Polymer-Based Medical Materials in Hubei Province, Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, People's Republic of China.

ACS Nano
|August 16, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed tendril-inspired hydrogel artificial muscles using reinforced polymers and a shaping process. These hydrogel muscles mimic natural muscles, offering high performance for potential biomedical applications.

Keywords:
bioinspired artificial musclescomparable work capacity with natural musclelarge actuation strainshape memory propertytendril-like hydrogels

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Biomaterials Engineering
  • Polymer Chemistry

Background:

  • Hydrogels offer muscle-like water content but suffer from poor mechanical properties and low work capacity, limiting their use as artificial muscles.
  • Developing artificial muscles with sufficient mechanical strength and actuation performance comparable to natural muscles remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design and fabricate tendril-inspired hydrogel artificial muscles with enhanced mechanical properties and actuation capabilities.
  • To investigate the influence of structural parameters like chirality and twist density on the performance of these hydrogel muscles.
  • To demonstrate the potential of these hydrogel muscles for actuation applications, including powering a model car.

Main Methods:

  • Incorporation of tunicate cellulose nanocrystals (TCNCs) into polymeric networks via host-guest interactions for hydrogel reinforcement.
  • A consecutive shaping process involving stretching, twisting, and coiling of TCNC-reinforced hydrogels.
  • Stabilization of the shaped hydrogel structures using Fe3+/–COO– ionic coordination.

Main Results:

  • The fabricated tendril-inspired hydrogel muscles exhibit high actuation rates, large actuation strains, and shape memory properties in response to solvent stimuli.
  • Actuation performance is tunable and influenced by factors such as chirality, twist density, applied stress, and temporary shape.
  • A homochiral hydrogel muscle demonstrated contractile work capacity comparable to natural muscle, successfully actuating a model car.

Conclusions:

  • A simple and effective strategy for fabricating advanced hydrogel artificial muscles has been demonstrated.
  • The developed hydrogel muscles possess properties suitable for biomedical applications, particularly due to their high water content and work capacity.
  • This research opens avenues for creating biomimetic actuators with potential in robotics and regenerative medicine.