Issue 16, 2019

3D printed self-adhesive PEGDA–PAA hydrogels as modular components for soft actuators and microfluidics

Abstract

Hydrogel building blocks that are stimuli-responsive and self-adhesive could be utilized as a simple “do-it-yourself” construction set for soft machines and microfluidic devices. However, conventional covalently-crosslinked hydrogels are unsuitable since they are as static materials with poor interfacial adhesion. In this article, we demonstrate ion-responsive interchangeable parts based on composite hydrogels that incorporate both covalent and ionic crosslinking. We use light-directed 3D printing to covalently-crosslink poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate in the presence of anionic poly(acrylic acid) of much higher molecular weight. The addition of trivalent cations acts to crosslink the anionic polymer chains together. Using high cation concentrations drives strong crosslinking, which can result in dramatic hydrogel contraction. Mismatched contraction of layered ion-responsive and non-ion-responsive hydrogels can control bending and twisting actuation, which is utilized for a gripping device. Alternatively, moderate cation concentrations permit strong self-adhesion between hydrogel surfaces. LEGO-like hydrogel blocks with internal channels and external mechanical connectors can be stacked into complex microfluidic device geometries including serpentine micromixers and multilevel architectures. This approach enables “plug-and-play” hydrogel parts for ionic soft machines that mimic actuation, sensing, and fluid transport in living systems.

Graphical abstract: 3D printed self-adhesive PEGDA–PAA hydrogels as modular components for soft actuators and microfluidics

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 fev 2019
Accepted
18 mar 2019
First published
18 mar 2019

Polym. Chem., 2019,10, 2015-2028

3D printed self-adhesive PEGDA–PAA hydrogels as modular components for soft actuators and microfluidics

T. M. Valentin, E. M. DuBois, C. E. Machnicki, D. Bhaskar, F. R. Cui and I. Y. Wong, Polym. Chem., 2019, 10, 2015 DOI: 10.1039/C9PY00211A

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