Reversible patterning and actuation of hydrogels by electrically assisted ionoprinting
Reversible patterning and actuation of hydrogels by electrically assisted ionoprinting
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DOI：
10.1038/ncomms3257
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发表时间：
2013-08-01
影响因子：
16.6
通讯作者：
Velev, Orlin D.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Palleau, Etienne;Morales, Daniel;Velev, Orlin D.
在仿生学、软机器人、细胞支架和生物材料中，构图、结构、重塑和驱动水凝胶的能力非常重要。在这里，我们介绍了一种‘离子印花’技术，该技术能够在电场的辅助下，通过离子的定向注入和络合来局部图案化离子，从而在二维和三维中对水合凝胶进行拓扑结构和激活。离子结合改变了凝胶的局部机械性质，以诱导浮雕图案，在某些情况下，还会引起足够大的局部应力，从而导致快速折叠。这些离子印迹图案在几个月内都是稳定的，但通过将凝胶浸入螯合剂中，离子印迹过程是完全可逆的。这种机械构图的水凝胶展示了可编程的时间和空间形状转变，并作为一种新型软致动器的基础，这种软致动器可以在空气和液体中轻轻操纵物体。
The ability to pattern, structure, re-shape and actuate hydrogels is important for biomimetics, soft robotics, cell scaffolding and biomaterials. Here we introduce an 'ionoprinting' technique with the capability to topographically structure and actuate hydrated gels in two and three dimensions by locally patterning ions via their directed injection and complexation, assisted by electric fields. The ionic binding changes the local mechanical properties of the gel to induce relief patterns and, in some cases, evokes localized stress large enough to cause rapid folding. These ionoprinted patterns are stable for months, yet the ionoprinting process is fully reversible by immersing the gel in a chelator. The mechanically patterned hydrogels exhibit programmable temporal and spatial shape transitions, and serve as a basis for a new class of soft actuators that can gently manipulate objects both in air and in liquid solutions.