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Updated: Sep 6, 2025
Control of Cell Adhesion using Hydrogel Patterning Techniques for Applications in Traction Force Microscopy
Published on: January 29, 2022
Antifreezing and Nondrying Sensors of Ionic Hydrogels with a Double-Layer Structure for Highly Sensitive Motion
Xiaoyong Zhang1, Gui Zhang1, Xinhua Huang1
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Mining Response and Disaster Prevention and Control in Deep Coal Mines, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Freezing and dehydration together with interfacial failure are capable of causing the functional reduction of hydrogels for sensing applications. Herein, we develop a multifunctional bilayer that consists of a mussel-inspired adhesive layer and a functionally ionic layer that is composed of sodium p-styrene sulfonate (SSS) and an ionic liquid of [BMIM]Cl. The adhesive layer enables the strong adhesion of the bilayer to the surface of the skin. The introduction of ionic elements of SSS-[BMIM]Cl not only provides the bilayer with sensing adaptability in a wide temperature range of -25 to 75 °C, but also endows it with elastic, stretchable, self-healing, and conductive features. These mechanical properties are utilized to assemble a wearable sensor that has unprecedented sensitivity and reusability in monitoring human motions, including stretching, pulsing, frowning, and speaking. It is thus expected that the concept in this work would provide a promising route to design soft sensing devices that can work in a wide temperature range.
