Issue 27, 2019

Gel-based soft actuators driven by light

Abstract

Movement is essential for living organisms. Biological motors enable activities necessary for life by conversion of chemical energy. Controlling stimuli-induced molecular motion and mastering its amplification from the molecular to the macroscopic scale enables the preparation of synthetic materials that display motile response and life-like actions such as bending, twisting and expansion–contraction movements. Light represents a valuable stimulus that can be remotely applied with high spatiotemporal control. Herein, photoresponsive gels that perform light-driven actuation are highlighted. Although some limitations still need to be overcome, these fascinating materials may find potential applications in remotely-guided bio-medical devices, artificial muscles, smart drug delivery systems, microfluidic elements, micromanipulators and biologically-inspired soft robotics.

Graphical abstract: Gel-based soft actuators driven by light

Article information

Article type
Highlight
Submitted
22 Goue. 2018
Accepted
28 Gen. 2019
First published
29 Gen. 2019

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2019,7, 4234-4242

Gel-based soft actuators driven by light

M. Mauro, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2019, 7, 4234 DOI: 10.1039/C8TB01893F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements