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Bioinspired Hydro- and Hydrothermally Responsive Tubular Soft Actuators.
Xi Zhang1, Shazed Aziz1, Bidita Salahuddin1
1School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|October 22, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed new soft actuators using cotton and polyurethane, mimicking elephant trunks. These biocompatible actuators offer versatile movements over a wide temperature range, overcoming limitations of current technologies.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Robotics Engineering
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Thermoresponsive polymers enable soft actuators for robotics and biomedicine.
- Existing actuators face limitations: narrow transition temperatures, unidirectional motion, and poor biocompatibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel, biocompatible soft actuators with enhanced functionality and wider operational temperature ranges.
- To overcome limitations of conventional thermoresponsive actuators through a biomimetic design.
Main Methods:
- A biomimetic approach was used, embedding helical cotton yarn within a hydrophilic polyurethane tube.
- Targeted surface patterning and harnessing hydrothermal stiffness variations in polyurethane were employed.
- Cell viability assays were conducted to confirm biocompatibility.
Main Results:
- The developed actuators exhibit consistent morphing capabilities over a broad temperature range.
- Versatile movements including linear, bending, curvilinear, and rotating motions were achieved.
- High biocompatibility of the actuator materials was confirmed through cell viability assays.
Conclusions:
- The facile fabrication strategy offers a new pathway for designing complex soft actuators from readily available materials.
- The biomimetic actuators overcome limitations of conventional designs, enabling versatile applications in intelligent robotics and biomedical devices.
