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Bioinspired Self-Growing Hydrogels by Harnessing Interfacial Polymerization.

Nannan Jian1, Rui Guo1, Lei Zuo1

  • 1School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|December 31, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed self-growing synthetic hydrogels inspired by natural materials. This novel fabrication method, using liquid metals, enables materials to grow autonomously, opening new possibilities for soft robotics and actuation.

Keywords:
actuationeutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn)interfacesradical polymerizationself-growing hydrogels

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Robotics

Background:

  • Natural materials exhibit self-growing properties, adapting to their environment through bottom-up fabrication.
  • Synthetic materials lack the inherent self-growing capabilities of natural counterparts, posing a challenge for advanced applications.
  • Replicating natural self-growth in synthetic systems is crucial for developing adaptive and responsive materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To fabricate synthetic hydrogels with self-growing characteristics.
  • To mimic the self-assembly and growth mechanisms observed in natural biological materials.
  • To explore the potential of these self-growing hydrogels in soft robotics and actuation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized free radical polymerization at the interface between acrylamide (AAm) precursor solution and eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) liquid metal.
  • Leveraged the liquid metal interface to initiate and sustain hydrogel growth.
  • Observed the upward self-propagation of the hydrogel as it formed.

Main Results:

  • Successfully fabricated self-growing polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels.
  • Demonstrated that the hydrogel growth is driven by polymerization at the liquid metal interface.
  • Achieved autonomous upward growth of the synthetic hydrogel material.

Conclusions:

  • Developed a novel method for creating self-growing synthetic hydrogels.
  • The liquid metal-polymerization interface provides a unique platform for autonomous material fabrication.
  • These self-growing hydrogels hold significant promise for applications in soft robotics and actuation systems.