Stimuli-responsive composite biopolymer actuators with selective spatial deformation behavior

Abstract

Bioinspired actuators with stimuli-responsive and deformable properties are being pursued in fields such as artificial tissues, medical devices and diagnostics, and intelligent biosensors. These applications require that actuator systems have biocompatibility, controlled deformability, biodegradability, mechanical durability, and stable reversibility. Herein, we report a bionic actuator system consisting of stimuli-responsive genetically engineered silk–elastin-like protein (SELP) hydrogels and wood-derived cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), which respond to temperature and ionic strength underwater by ecofriendly methods. Programmed site-selective actuation can be predicted and folded into three-dimensional (3D) origami-like shapes. The reversible deformation performance of the SELP/CNF actuators was quantified, and complex spatial transformations of multilayer actuators were demonstrated, including a biomimetic flower design with selective petal movements. Such actuators consisting entirely of biocompatible and biodegradable materials will offer an option toward constructing stimuli-responsive systems for in vivo biomedicine soft robotics and bionic research.

Photo-Crosslinked Silk Fibroin for 3D Printing

“…Of note, the C-like shape was particularly advantageous for pediatric patients, as it fits the growing airway by expanding [ 109 ]. The shape morphing capability of protein-based materials has also been observed with bovine serum albumin [ 110 , 111 ], calmodulin [ 112 ], and silk-elastin-like proteins [ 113 ], pointing to the development of 3D printing with shape-morphing protein-based materials.…”

3D Printing of Monolithic Proteinaceous Cantilevers Using Regenerated Silk Fibroin

“…Finite element analysis (FEA)-based 3D models of proteinaceous cantilevers with span lengths from 400 to 800 μm were developed using the solid mechanics interface in COMSOL ( Figure 4 e,f) [ 67 ]. The 3D models resemble the shape of the cantilever prints.…”

Molecular‐Scale Design of Cellulose‐Based Functional Materials for Flexible Electronic Devices

“…[74][75][76][77] Physical/chemical molecular modification and molecular self-assembly are effective measures for designing material structures to improve their properties. [4,42,[78][79][80] For example, molecular self-assembly via the establishment of various intermolecular noncovalent methods, including hydrogen bonding, [81,82] van der Waals forces, [83] weak coordination bonds, [84] and other methods, [85][86][87] provides an elegant and adjustable strategy for designing functional materials with unique properties (Figure 1d-f). In addition, by using homogeneous cellulose systems in the form of single molecular chains, a variety of cellulose-based functional materials have been developed, including conductive ionic gels, transparent film conductors, electroactive materials, nanovesicles, and bionic memory muscles (Figure 2).…”