Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics
Abstract Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have garnered significant attention as a versatile class of soft actuators. Introducing anisotropic properties, and shape-change programmability to responsive hydrogels promises a host of opportunities in the development of soft robots. Herein we report the synt...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41874-7 |
| _version_ | 1797558698656137216 |
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| author | Rasool Nasseri Negin Bouzari Junting Huang Hossein Golzar Sarah Jankhani Xiaowu (Shirley) Tang Tizazu H. Mekonnen Amirreza Aghakhani Hamed Shahsavan |
| author_facet | Rasool Nasseri Negin Bouzari Junting Huang Hossein Golzar Sarah Jankhani Xiaowu (Shirley) Tang Tizazu H. Mekonnen Amirreza Aghakhani Hamed Shahsavan |
| author_sort | Rasool Nasseri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have garnered significant attention as a versatile class of soft actuators. Introducing anisotropic properties, and shape-change programmability to responsive hydrogels promises a host of opportunities in the development of soft robots. Herein we report the synthesis of pH-responsive hydrogel nanocomposites with predetermined microstructural anisotropy, shape-transformation, and self-healing. Our hydrogel nanocomposites are largely composed of zwitterionic monomers and asymmetric cellulose nanocrystals. While the zwitterionic nature of the network imparts both self-healing and cytocompatibility to our hydrogel nanocomposites, the shear-induced alignment of cellulose nanocrystals renders their anisotropic swelling and mechanical properties. Thanks to the self-healing properties, we utilized a cut-and-paste approach to program reversible, and complex deformation into our hydrogels. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrated the transport of light cargo using tethered and untethered soft robots made from our hydrogels. We believe the proposed material system introduce a powerful toolbox for the development of future generations of biomedical soft robots. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:35:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05d443d1dc56464c9704db55969f02db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:35:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-05d443d1dc56464c9704db55969f02db2023-11-20T09:52:16ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-09-0114111510.1038/s41467-023-41874-7Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft roboticsRasool Nasseri0Negin Bouzari1Junting Huang2Hossein Golzar3Sarah Jankhani4Xiaowu (Shirley) Tang5Tizazu H. Mekonnen6Amirreza Aghakhani7Hamed Shahsavan8Department of Chemical Engineering, University of WaterlooDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of WaterlooDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of WaterlooDepartment of Chemistry, University of WaterlooDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of WaterlooDepartment of Chemistry, University of WaterlooDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of WaterlooInstitute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems (IBBS), University of StuttgartDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of WaterlooAbstract Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have garnered significant attention as a versatile class of soft actuators. Introducing anisotropic properties, and shape-change programmability to responsive hydrogels promises a host of opportunities in the development of soft robots. Herein we report the synthesis of pH-responsive hydrogel nanocomposites with predetermined microstructural anisotropy, shape-transformation, and self-healing. Our hydrogel nanocomposites are largely composed of zwitterionic monomers and asymmetric cellulose nanocrystals. While the zwitterionic nature of the network imparts both self-healing and cytocompatibility to our hydrogel nanocomposites, the shear-induced alignment of cellulose nanocrystals renders their anisotropic swelling and mechanical properties. Thanks to the self-healing properties, we utilized a cut-and-paste approach to program reversible, and complex deformation into our hydrogels. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrated the transport of light cargo using tethered and untethered soft robots made from our hydrogels. We believe the proposed material system introduce a powerful toolbox for the development of future generations of biomedical soft robots.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41874-7 |
| spellingShingle | Rasool Nasseri Negin Bouzari Junting Huang Hossein Golzar Sarah Jankhani Xiaowu (Shirley) Tang Tizazu H. Mekonnen Amirreza Aghakhani Hamed Shahsavan Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics Nature Communications |
| title | Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics |
| title_full | Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics |
| title_fullStr | Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics |
| title_short | Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics |
| title_sort | programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41874-7 |
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