A Biocompatible and Self-Healable 3D-Printed Bidirectional Hydrogel Actuator with Needle Injectability
Kai-Ruei Yang, Qian-Pu Cheng, Shan-hui Hsu
TL;DR
A new biocompatible hydrogel actuator is developed that can self-heal, 3D-print, and actuate in two directions, making it suitable for biomedical applications.
Contribution
A novel PNIPAM-GelMA hydrogel system is introduced that combines toughness, self-healing, and bidirectional actuation in a biocompatible actuator.
Findings
The PNG hydrogel exhibits self-healing and high elasticity with a storage modulus of ∼13 kPa.
The actuator achieves bidirectional bending angles of ∼380° at 37°C and ∼−270° at 25°C after self-healing.
The system integrates toughness, self-healing, and bidirectional actuation, addressing key limitations in biocompatible actuators.
Abstract
Multifunctional hydrogels are highly desirable for emerging material applications, particularly for biocompatible hydrogel actuators. However, integrating toughness, self-healing, and reversible bidirectional actuation into a biocompatible actuator remains challenging. Herein, a 3D-printable and biocompatible bilayer hydrogel actuator with reversible bidirectional actuation is developed using a new poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-gelatin methacryloyl (PNIPAM-GelMA; “PNG”) hydrogel as the active layer. The photo-cross-linked PNG hydrogel shows self-healing ability as well as good elasticity (storage modulus ∼13 kPa) and toughness (linear viscoelastic range up to 240% shear strain). Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis for the microstructure of PNG reveals the presence of dynamic PNIPAM clusters composed of interlocking PNIPAM side chains, accounting for the self-healing behavior of the PNG…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAdvanced Materials and Mechanics · Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications · Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials