Natural polymer-based soft actuators: from biomass to bioapplications

Abstract

Nature-inspired soft actuators constructed from polymers have been widely used in wearables, soft robotics, implants, and tissue engineering. Synthetic polymer-based soft actuators have implied high-performances yet poor biosafety and sustainability which limit their bioapplications. Compared to synthetic polymers, natural polymers from biomass possess intrinsic biocompatibility, renewability, cost-efficiency, and degradability. Although plenty natural polymers lack of surprising smart properties unless modifying or functionalizing, the big library of natural polymers are still the first-choice for bioapplications of soft actuators. Herein, we discuss the selection of natural polymers, design principle, stimuli-responsiveness types, and emerging bioapplications, as well as challenges and opportunities in further development of natural polymer-based actuators.