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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

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Gradient Anisotropic Natural Rubber-PNIPAM Composite Hydrogels for Programmable NIR-Responsive Actuation.

Qing Zhang1, Xueliang Feng1, Yuxin Yan1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.

Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a gradient anisotropic hydrogel using natural rubber and PNIPAM. This material offers programmable deformation, rapid near-infrared (NIR) responsiveness, and enhanced mechanical strength for advanced soft actuators.

Keywords:
composite materialsgradient anisotropysmart hydrogelsoft roboticsstimuli-responsive actuation

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Synthesis of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Janus Microhydrogels for Anisotropic Thermo-responsiveness and Organophilic/Hydrophilic Loading Capability

Published on: February 27, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Soft Robotics

Background:

  • Developing heterogeneous hydrogels with complex deformation capabilities is crucial for soft actuators.
  • Existing strategies often struggle to achieve structural anisotropy, rapid responsiveness, and mechanical robustness simultaneously.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To create a novel gradient anisotropic composite hydrogel with tunable deformation properties.
  • To integrate rapid photothermal actuation and mechanical reinforcement into a single hydrogel system.

Main Methods:

  • A one-pot polymerization strategy was employed, combining pH-regulated colloidal stability with gravity-directed particle redistribution.
  • Natural rubber (NR) nanoparticles were incorporated into a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) network, forming a gradient structure.
  • Water-soluble graphene nanosheets were added for near-infrared (NIR) photothermal conversion.

Main Results:

  • The gradient NR-PNIPAM hydrogel exhibited programmable bending and localized folding with high actuation rates (129° s⁻¹ and 46° s⁻¹).
  • The hydrogel demonstrated significant mechanical robustness with a tensile strength of 0.32 MPa and lifting capability over 70 times its weight.
  • NIR stimulation enabled rapid, remotely controlled actuation, including biomimetic gripping and lifting.

Conclusions:

  • A general strategy for creating robust gradient hydrogels was established by integrating colloidal regulation, structural anisotropy, and photothermal actuation.
  • The developed hydrogel serves as a versatile platform for high-performance soft intelligent systems.
  • This work advances the design of anisotropic soft materials for complex actuation tasks.