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Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators
Published on: May 20, 2018
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Skin-friendly and antibacterial monodomain liquid crystal elastomer actuator
Yaoyao Jiang1, Xu Dong2, Shijie Zhu1
1Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, PR China.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
|December 31, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed new smart materials called monodomain liquid crystal elastomers (mLCEs) with a lower transition temperature and maintained tensile strength. These advanced mLCEs also exhibit antimicrobial and self-healing properties for potential biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Monodomain liquid crystal elastomers (mLCEs) are smart materials with unique properties like soft elasticity and reversible shape changes.
- Current mLCEs have high transition temperatures (TNI > 60°C) and lose tensile strength above TNI, limiting human applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reduce the nematic-isotropic transition temperature (TNI) of mLCEs.
- To maintain tensile strength during phase transformation.
- To enhance mLCEs with antimicrobial and self-healing properties for skin wound closure.
Main Methods:
- Reduced TNI by incorporating flexible backbones into rigid LC mesogens.
- Utilized hydrogen bonding for molecular chain entanglement to prevent slip.
- Introduced dynamic disulfide bonds for antimicrobial and self-healing functionalities.
- Fabricated a porous PHG-mLCE/hydrogel patch for skin adhesion.
Main Results:
- Successfully lowered TNI from 78.4°C to 23.5°C.
- Tensile strength remained constant across the phase transition.
- Achieved excellent antimicrobial, programmable, and self-healing properties.
- Developed a breathable, waterproof patch with high skin adhesion (262 N/m).
Conclusions:
- The modified mLCEs overcome limitations of existing materials, enabling broader applications.
- The developed patch demonstrates potential for effective and advanced skin wound closure.
- This work paves the way for next-generation smart materials in wearable devices and biomedicine.
