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Protein‐Based Hydrogels that Actuate Self‐Folding Systems
Author(s) -
Gomes Conor M.,
Liu Chang,
Paten Jeffrey A.,
Felton Samuel M.,
Deravi Leila F.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201805777
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , materials science , folding (dsp implementation) , mechatronics , actuator , stiffness , nanotechnology , biological system , computer science , mechanical engineering , composite material , artificial intelligence , polymer chemistry , engineering , biology
An approach to build a chemomechatronic system inspired by self‐folding robots is described. This system, which comprises a protein‐based hydrogel bound to a low‐profile laminate, responds to different aqueous environments by undergoing geometric transformations. This response is dependent on the thickness and stiffness of the templating hydrogel, which directly regulates the diffusion of water into and out of the platform to initiate its reversible shape changes. When modified to include more complex geometries, these controllable shape changes can also be used to selectively trigger multiple folding events, illustrating a new platform for chemically initiated mechatronic devices. Together, these data show how compositionally discrete components are physically, chemically, and mechanically coupled together to generate a new actuator for biohybrid self‐folding systems.