Issue 32, 2018

Dehydration-triggered shape morphing based on asymmetric bubble hydrogel microfibers

Abstract

Inspired by nature, scientists have been engaged in developing deformable artificial systems. Here, we propose an innovative method to realize controllable deformations using asymmetric bubble hydrogel microfibers produced by microfluidic cascaded coaxial devices. Asymmetric geometries, coupled with the mismatched shrinkage ratio, contribute to deformations upon dehydration. The dynamic process can be controlled by regulating bubble sizes, distances and packing modes. Various 4D structures have been constructed. Combined with the 3D printing technique, this proof-of-concept study may open new avenues for bio-engineering and beyond.

Graphical abstract: Dehydration-triggered shape morphing based on asymmetric bubble hydrogel microfibers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
14 May 2018
Accepted
13 Jun 2018
First published
14 Jun 2018

Soft Matter, 2018,14, 6623-6626

Dehydration-triggered shape morphing based on asymmetric bubble hydrogel microfibers

Z. Liang, Y. Liu, F. Zhang, Y. Ai and Q. Liang, Soft Matter, 2018, 14, 6623 DOI: 10.1039/C8SM00984H

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