1
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Kumar M, Murali A, Subramaniam AG, Singh R, Thutupalli S. Emergent dynamics due to chemo-hydrodynamic self-interactions in active polymers. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4903. [PMID: 38851777 PMCID: PMC11162426 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49155-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The field of synthetic active matter has, thus far, been led by efforts to create point-like, isolated (yet interacting) self-propelled objects (e.g. colloids, droplets, microrobots) and understanding their collective dynamics. The design of flexible, freely jointed active assemblies from autonomously powered sub-components remains a challenge. Here, we report freely-jointed active polymers created using self-propelled droplets as monomeric units. Our experiments reveal that the self-shaping chemo-hydrodynamic interactions between the monomeric droplets give rise to an emergent rigidity (the acquisition of a stereotypical asymmetric C-shape) and associated ballistic propulsion of the active polymers. The rigidity and propulsion of the chains vary systematically with their lengths. Using simulations of a minimal model, we establish that the emergent polymer dynamics are a generic consequence of quasi two-dimensional confinement and auto-repulsive trail-mediated chemical interactions between the freely jointed active droplets. Finally, we tune the interplay between the chemical and hydrodynamic fields to experimentally demonstrate oscillatory dynamics of the rigid polymer propulsion. Altogether, our work highlights the possible first steps towards synthetic self-morphic active matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Kumar
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India.
| | - Aniruddh Murali
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | | | - Rajesh Singh
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, India.
| | - Shashi Thutupalli
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India.
- International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India.
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2
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Zhang LL, Zhong CB, Huang TJ, Zhang LM, Yan F, Ying YL. High-throughput single biomarker identification using droplet nanopore. Chem Sci 2024; 15:8355-8362. [PMID: 38846401 PMCID: PMC11151865 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06795e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers are present in various metabolism processes, demanding precise and meticulous analysis at the single-molecule level for accurate clinical diagnosis. Given the need for high sensitivity, biological nanopore have been applied for single biomarker sensing. However, the detection of low-volume biomarkers poses challenges due to their low concentrations in dilute buffer solutions, as well as difficulty in parallel detection. Here, a droplet nanopore technique is developed for low-volume and high-throughput single biomarker detection at the sub-microliter scale, which shows a 2000-fold volume reduction compared to conventional setups. To prove the concept, this nanopore sensing platform not only enables multichannel recording but also significantly lowers the detection limit for various types of biomarkers such as angiotensin II, to 42 pg. This advancement enables direct biomarker detection at the picogram level. Such a leap forward in detection capability positions this nanopore sensing platform as a promising candidate for point-of-care testing of biomarker at single-molecule level, while substantially minimizing the need for sample dilution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Lin Zhang
- Molecular Sensing and Imaging Center, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Cheng-Bing Zhong
- Molecular Sensing and Imaging Center, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Ting-Jing Huang
- Molecular Sensing and Imaging Center, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Li-Min Zhang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Feng Yan
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Yi-Lun Ying
- Molecular Sensing and Imaging Center, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
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3
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Liu J, Huang YS, Liu Y, Zhang D, Koynov K, Butt HJ, Wu S. Reconfiguring hydrogel assemblies using a photocontrolled metallopolymer adhesive for multiple customized functions. Nat Chem 2024; 16:1024-1033. [PMID: 38459235 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01476-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive hydrogels with programmable shape changes are promising materials for soft robots, four-dimensional printing, biomedical devices and artificial intelligence systems. However, these applications require the fabrication of hydrogels with complex, heterogeneous and reconfigurable structures and customizable functions. Here we report the fabrication of hydrogel assemblies with these features by reversibly gluing hydrogel units using a photocontrolled metallopolymer adhesive. The metallopolymer adhesive firmly attached individual hydrogel units via metal-ligand coordination and polymer chain entanglement. Hydrogel assemblies containing temperature- and pH-responsive hydrogel units showed controllable shape changes and motions in response to these external stimuli. To reconfigure their structures, the hydrogel assemblies were disassembled by irradiating the metallopolymer adhesive with light; the disassembled hydrogel units were then reassembled using the metallopolymer adhesive with heating. The shape change and structure reconfiguration abilities allow us to reprogramme the functions of hydrogel assemblies. The development of reconfigurable hydrogel assemblies using reversible adhesives provides a strategy for designing intelligent materials and soft robots with user-defined functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Liu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Anhui Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Science and Technology, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Yun-Shuai Huang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Anhui Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Science and Technology, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yazhi Liu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Anhui Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Science and Technology, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Dachuan Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Anhui Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Science and Technology, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Kaloian Koynov
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Si Wu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Anhui Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Science and Technology, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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4
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Lu P, Liao X, Guo X, Cai C, Liu Y, Chi M, Du G, Wei Z, Meng X, Nie S. Gel-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Flexible Sensing: Principles, Properties, and Applications. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2024; 16:206. [PMID: 38819527 PMCID: PMC11143175 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01432-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The rapid development of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies has increased the need for wearable, portable, and self-powered flexible sensing devices. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) based on gel materials (with excellent conductivity, mechanical tunability, environmental adaptability, and biocompatibility) are considered an advanced approach for developing a new generation of flexible sensors. This review comprehensively summarizes the recent advances in gel-based TENGs for flexible sensors, covering their principles, properties, and applications. Based on the development requirements for flexible sensors, the working mechanism of gel-based TENGs and the characteristic advantages of gels are introduced. Design strategies for the performance optimization of hydrogel-, organogel-, and aerogel-based TENGs are systematically summarized. In addition, the applications of gel-based TENGs in human motion sensing, tactile sensing, health monitoring, environmental monitoring, human-machine interaction, and other related fields are summarized. Finally, the challenges of gel-based TENGs for flexible sensing are discussed, and feasible strategies are proposed to guide future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Lu
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, People's Republic of China
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101400, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofang Liao
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyao Guo
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenchen Cai
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhua Liu
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingchao Chi
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoli Du
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiting Wei
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangjiang Meng
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuangxi Nie
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Wen Y, Li K, Luo J, Feng W, Shi S. Thermal Welding of Liquids. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2403015. [PMID: 38655760 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202403015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Welding of thermoplastics is a common practice in many industrial sectors, but it has yet to be realized with fluids. Here, the thermal welding of liquids by using the assembly and jamming of nanoparticle surfactants (NPSs) at liquid-liquid interfaces is reported. By fine-tuning the dynamic interaction strength within NPSs, the interfacial activity of NPSs, as well as the binding energy of NPSs to the interface can be precisely controlled, leading to a dynamic exchange of NPSs, maximizing the reduction in the interfacial energy. With NPSs jammed at the interface, the structures of liquids can be manipulated to complex geometries by applying an external force and, due to the temperature responsiveness of NPSs, when bringing liquids into contact and heating the system, welding of liquids can be achieved. This work provides a straightforward strategy for the construction of modular all-liquid fluidics, opening up numerous opportunities in fields like biotechnology, healthcare, and materials science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhui Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Kaijuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jiaqiu Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Weixiao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Shaowei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
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6
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Naz M, Zhang L, Chen C, Yang S, Dou H, Mann S, Li J. Self-assembly of stabilized droplets from liquid-liquid phase separation for higher-order structures and functions. Commun Chem 2024; 7:79. [PMID: 38594355 PMCID: PMC11004187 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01168-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Dynamic microscale droplets produced by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) have emerged as appealing biomaterials due to their remarkable features. However, the instability of droplets limits the construction of population-level structures with collective behaviors. Here we first provide a brief background of droplets in the context of materials properties. Subsequently, we discuss current strategies for stabilizing droplets including physical separation and chemical modulation. We also discuss the recent development of LLPS droplets for various applications such as synthetic cells and biomedical materials. Finally, we give insights on how stabilized droplets can self-assemble into higher-order structures displaying coordinated functions to fully exploit their potentials in bottom-up synthetic biology and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehwish Naz
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 429 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 429 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Chong Chen
- MediCity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, Tykistökatu 6, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Shuo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 429 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Hongjing Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 429 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Stephen Mann
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 429 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
| | - Jianwei Li
- MediCity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, Tykistökatu 6, Turku, 20520, Finland.
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7
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Ngocho K, Yang X, Wang Z, Hu C, Yang X, Shi H, Wang K, Liu J. Synthetic Cells from Droplet-Based Microfluidics for Biosensing and Biomedical Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2400086. [PMID: 38563581 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic cells function as biological mimics of natural cells by mimicking salient features of cells such as metabolism, response to stimuli, gene expression, direct metabolism, and high stability. Droplet-based microfluidic technology presents the opportunity for encapsulating biological functional components in uni-lamellar liposome or polymer droplets. Verified by its success in the fabrication of synthetic cells, microfluidic technology is widely replacing conventional labor-intensive, expensive, and sophisticated techniques justified by its ability to miniaturize and perform batch production operations. In this review, an overview of recent research on the preparation of synthetic cells through droplet-based microfluidics is provided. Different synthetic cells including lipid vesicles (liposome), polymer vesicles (polymersome), coacervate microdroplets, and colloidosomes, are systematically discussed. Efforts are then made to discuss the design of a variety of microfluidic chips for synthetic cell preparation since the combination of microfluidics with bottom-up synthetic biology allows for reproductive and tunable construction of batches of synthetic cell models from simple structures to higher hierarchical structures. The recent advances aimed at exploiting them in biosensors and other biomedical applications are then discussed. Finally, some perspectives on the challenges and future developments of synthetic cell research with microfluidics for biomimetic science and biomedical applications are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kleins Ngocho
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Xilei Yang
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Zefeng Wang
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Cunjie Hu
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohai Yang
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Hui Shi
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Kemin Wang
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Jianbo Liu
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
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8
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Sun S, Li S, Feng W, Luo J, Russell TP, Shi S. Reconfigurable droplet networks. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1058. [PMID: 38316759 PMCID: PMC10844234 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45214-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Droplet networks stabilized by lipid interfacial bilayers or colloidal particles have been extensively investigated in recent years and are of great interest for compartmentalized reactions and biological functions. However, current design strategies are disadvantaged by complex preparations and limited droplet size. Here, by using the assembly and jamming of cucurbit[8]uril surfactants at the oil-water interface, we show a novel means of preparing droplet networks that are multi-responsive, reconfigurable, and internally connected over macroscopic distances. Openings between the droplets enable the exchange of matter, affording a platform for chemical reactions and material synthesis. Our work requires only a manual compression to construct complex patterns of droplet networks, underscoring the simplicity of this strategy and the range of potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029, Beijing, China
| | - Shuailong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029, Beijing, China
| | - Weixiao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqiu Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029, Beijing, China
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Shaowei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029, Beijing, China.
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9
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Rubanov M, Cole J, Lee HJ, Soto Cordova LG, Chen Z, Gonzalez E, Schulman R. Multi-domain automated patterning of DNA-functionalized hydrogels. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295923. [PMID: 38306330 PMCID: PMC10836684 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA-functionalized hydrogels are capable of sensing oligonucleotides, proteins, and small molecules, and specific DNA sequences sensed in the hydrogels' environment can induce changes in these hydrogels' shape and fluorescence. Fabricating DNA-functionalized hydrogel architectures with multiple domains could make it possible to sense multiple molecules and undergo more complicated macroscopic changes, such as changing fluorescence or changing the shapes of regions of the hydrogel architecture. However, automatically fabricating multi-domain DNA-functionalized hydrogel architectures, capable of enabling the construction of hydrogel architectures with tens to hundreds of different domains, presents a significant challenge. We describe a platform for fabricating multi-domain DNA-functionalized hydrogels automatically at the micron scale, where reaction and diffusion processes can be coupled to program material behavior. Using this platform, the hydrogels' material properties, such as shape and fluorescence, can be programmed, and the fabricated hydrogels can sense their environment. DNA-functionalized hydrogel architectures with domain sizes as small as 10 microns and with up to 4 different types of domains can be automatically fabricated using ink volumes as low as 50 μL. We also demonstrate that hydrogels fabricated using this platform exhibit responses similar to those of DNA-functionalized hydrogels fabricated using other methods by demonstrating that DNA sequences can hybridize within them and that they can undergo DNA sequence-induced shape change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Rubanov
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joshua Cole
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Heon-Joon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering and the School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Leandro G. Soto Cordova
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Zachary Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Elia Gonzalez
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rebecca Schulman
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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10
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Jo H, Sim S. Elastic Network of Droplets for Underwater Adhesives. J Am Chem Soc 2023. [PMID: 38048531 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Functionality in biological materials arises from complex hierarchical structures formed through self-assembly processes. Here, we report a kinetically trapped self-assembly of an elastic network of liquid droplets and its utility for tough and fast-acting underwater adhesives. This complex structure was made from a one-pot mixture of scalable small-molecule precursors. Liquid-liquid phase separation accompanied by silanol hydrolysis, condensation, and zwitterionic self-association yields a viscoelastic solid with interconnected liquid droplets. These hierarchical microstructures increase toughness and enable underwater adhesion for a range of substrates, offering a platform for robust adhesives for rapid underwater repair or emergency wound care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyuna Jo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Center for Complex and Active Materials, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Seunghyun Sim
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Center for Complex and Active Materials, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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11
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Li S, Zhang J, He J, Liu W, Wang Y, Huang Z, Pang H, Chen Y. Functional PDMS Elastomers: Bulk Composites, Surface Engineering, and Precision Fabrication. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2304506. [PMID: 37814364 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-the simplest and most common silicone compound-exemplifies the central characteristics of its class and has attracted tremendous research attention. The development of PDMS-based materials is a vivid reflection of the modern industry. In recent years, PDMS has stood out as the material of choice for various emerging technologies. The rapid improvement in bulk modification strategies and multifunctional surfaces has enabled a whole new generation of PDMS-based materials and devices, facilitating, and even transforming enormous applications, including flexible electronics, superwetting surfaces, soft actuators, wearable and implantable sensors, biomedicals, and autonomous robotics. This paper reviews the latest advances in the field of PDMS-based functional materials, with a focus on the added functionality and their use as programmable materials for smart devices. Recent breakthroughs regarding instant crosslinking and additive manufacturing are featured, and exciting opportunities for future research are highlighted. This review provides a quick entrance to this rapidly evolving field and will help guide the rational design of next-generation soft materials and devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaopeng Li
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Jian He
- Yizhi Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, No. 99 Danba Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Weiping Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
- Center for Composites, COMAC Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - YuHuang Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Maryland NanoCenter, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Zhongjie Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Huan Pang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Yiwang Chen
- National Engineering Research Center for Carbohydrate Synthesis/Key Lab of Fluorine and Silicon for Energy Materials and Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Normal University, 99 Ziyang Avenue, Nanchang, 330022, China
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12
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Zhang Y, Wu BM. Current Advances in Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels as Smart Drug Delivery Carriers. Gels 2023; 9:838. [PMID: 37888411 PMCID: PMC10606589 DOI: 10.3390/gels9100838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, significant advancements in the field of advanced materials and hydrogel engineering have enabled the design and fabrication of smart hydrogels and nanogels that exhibit sensitivity to specific signals or pathological conditions, leading to a wide range of applications in drug delivery and disease treatment. This comprehensive review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the stimuli-responsive principles exhibited by smart hydrogels in response to various triggers, such as pH levels, temperature fluctuations, light exposure, redox conditions, or the presence of specific biomolecules. The functionality and performance characteristics of these hydrogels are highly influenced by both their constituent components and fabrication processes. Key design principles, their applications in disease treatments, challenges, and future prospects were also discussed. Overall, this review aims to contribute to the current understanding of gel-based drug delivery systems and stimulate further research in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Zhang
- Department of Mineralized Tissue Biology, The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA;
| | - Benjamin M. Wu
- Department of Mineralized Tissue Biology, The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA;
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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13
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Chen X, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Li B, Li Y, Jiang L. Optical Manipulation of Soft Matter. SMALL METHODS 2023:e2301105. [PMID: 37818749 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Optical manipulation has emerged as a pivotal tool in soft matter research, offering superior applicability, spatiotemporal precision, and manipulation capabilities compared to conventional methods. Here, an overview of the optical mechanisms governing the interaction between light and soft matter materials during manipulation is provided. The distinct characteristics exhibited by various soft matter materials, including liquid crystals, polymers, colloids, amphiphiles, thin liquid films, and biological soft materials are highlighted, and elucidate their fundamental response characteristics to optical manipulation techniques. This knowledge serves as a foundation for designing effective strategies for soft matter manipulation. Moreover, the diverse range of applications and future prospects that arise from the synergistic collaboration between optical manipulation and soft matter materials in emerging fields are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixi Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Yanan Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Baojun Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Yuchao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Lingxiang Jiang
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
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14
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Vijayakanth T, Shankar S, Finkelstein-Zuta G, Rencus-Lazar S, Gilead S, Gazit E. Perspectives on recent advancements in energy harvesting, sensing and bio-medical applications of piezoelectric gels. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:6191-6220. [PMID: 37585216 PMCID: PMC10464879 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00202k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of next-generation bioelectronics, as well as the powering of consumer and medical devices, require power sources that are soft, flexible, extensible, and even biocompatible. Traditional energy storage devices (typically, batteries and supercapacitors) are rigid, unrecyclable, offer short-lifetime, contain hazardous chemicals and possess poor biocompatibility, hindering their utilization in wearable electronics. Therefore, there is a genuine unmet need for a new generation of innovative energy-harvesting materials that are soft, flexible, bio-compatible, and bio-degradable. Piezoelectric gels or PiezoGels are a smart crystalline form of gels with polar ordered structures that belongs to the broader family of piezoelectric material, which generate electricity in response to mechanical stress or deformation. Given that PiezoGels are structurally similar to hydrogels, they offer several advantages including intrinsic chirality, crystallinity, degree of ordered structures, mechanical flexibility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, emphasizing their potential applications ranging from power generation to bio-medical applications. Herein, we describe recent examples of new functional PiezoGel materials employed for energy harvesting, sensing, and wound dressing applications. First, this review focuses on the principles of piezoelectric generators (PEGs) and the advantages of using hydrogels as PiezoGels in energy and biomedical applications. Next, we provide a detailed discussion on the preparation, functionalization, and fabrication of PiezoGel-PEGs (P-PEGs) for the applications of energy harvesting, sensing and wound healing/dressing. Finally, this review concludes with a discussion of the current challenges and future directions of P-PEGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thangavel Vijayakanth
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-6997801, Israel
| | - Sudha Shankar
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-6997801, Israel
- Blavatnik Center for Drug Discovery, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-6997801, Israel
| | - Gal Finkelstein-Zuta
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-6997801, Israel
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-6997801, Israel.
| | - Sigal Rencus-Lazar
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-6997801, Israel
| | - Sharon Gilead
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-6997801, Israel
- Blavatnik Center for Drug Discovery, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-6997801, Israel
| | - Ehud Gazit
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-6997801, Israel
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-6997801, Israel.
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15
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Allen ME, Hindley JW, O’Toole N, Cooke HS, Contini C, Law RV, Ces O, Elani Y. Biomimetic behaviors in hydrogel artificial cells through embedded organelles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2307772120. [PMID: 37603747 PMCID: PMC10466294 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307772120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial cells are biomimetic structures formed from molecular building blocks that replicate biological processes, behaviors, and architectures. Of these building blocks, hydrogels have emerged as ideal, yet underutilized candidates to provide a gel-like chassis in which to incorporate both biological and nonbiological componentry which enables the replication of cellular functionality. Here, we demonstrate a microfluidic strategy to assemble biocompatible cell-sized hydrogel-based artificial cells with a variety of different embedded functional subcompartments, which act as engineered synthetic organelles. The organelles enable the recreation of increasingly biomimetic behaviors, including stimulus-induced motility, content release through activation of membrane-associated proteins, and enzymatic communication with surrounding bioinspired compartments. In this way, we showcase a foundational strategy for the bottom-up construction of hydrogel-based artificial cell microsystems which replicate fundamental cellular behaviors, paving the way for the construction of next-generation biotechnological devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. Allen
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, LondonSW7 2AZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
| | - James W. Hindley
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
| | - Nina O’Toole
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, LondonSW7 2AZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
| | - Hannah S. Cooke
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, LondonSW7 2AZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
| | - Claudia Contini
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, LondonSW7 2AZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
| | - Robert V. Law
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, LondonSW7 2AZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, LondonW12 0BZ, UK
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16
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Yang Y, Li C, Palmer LC, Stupp SI. Autonomous hydrogel locomotion regulated by light and electric fields. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi4566. [PMID: 37531426 PMCID: PMC10396299 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi4566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Autonomous robotic functions in materials beyond simple stimulus-response actuation require the development of functional soft matter that can complete well-organized tasks without step-by-step control. We report the design of photo- and electroactivated hydrogels that can capture and deliver cargo, avoid obstacles, and return without external, stepwise control. By incorporating two spiropyran monomers with different chemical substituents in the hydrogel, we created chemically random networks that enabled photoregulated charge reversal and autonomous behaviors under a constant electric field. In addition, using perturbations in the electric field induced by a dielectric inhomogeneity, the hydrogel could be attracted to high dielectric constant materials and autonomously bypasses the low dielectric constant materials under the guidance of the electric field vector. The photo- and electroactive hydrogels investigated here can autonomously perform tasks using constant external stimuli, an encouraging observation for the potential development of molecularly designed intelligent robotic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Chuang Li
- Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Liam C Palmer
- Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Samuel I Stupp
- Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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17
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Zhang M, An H, Gu Z, Huang Z, Zhang F, Jiang BG, Wen Y, Zhang P. Mimosa-Inspired Stimuli-Responsive Curling Bioadhesive Tape Promotes Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2212015. [PMID: 37205796 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202212015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Trauma often results in peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs). These injuries are particularly challenging therapeutically because of variable nerve diameters, slow axonal regeneration, infection of severed ends, fragility of the nerve tissue, and the intricacy of surgical intervention. Surgical suturing is likely to cause additional damage to peripheral nerves. Therefore, an ideal nerve scaffold should possess good biocompatibility, diameter adaptability, and a stable biological interface for seamless biointegration with tissues. Inspired by the curl of Mimosa pudica, this study aimed to design and develop a diameter-adaptable, suture-free, stimulated curling bioadhesive tape (SCT) hydrogel for repairing PNI. The hydrogel is fabricated from chitosan and acrylic acid-N-hydroxysuccinimide lipid via gradient crosslinking using glutaraldehyde. It closely matches the nerves of different individuals and regions, thereby providing a bionic scaffold for axonal regeneration. In addition, this hydrogel rapidly absorbs tissue fluid from the nerve surface achieving durable wet-interface adhesion. Furthermore, the chitosan-based SCT hydrogel loaded with insulin-like growth factor-I effectively promotes peripheral nerve regeneration with excellent bioactivity. This procedure for peripheral nerve injury repair using the SCT hydrogel is simple and reduces the difficulty and duration of surgery, thereby advancing adaptive biointerfaces and reliable materials for nerve repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People's Hospital, Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration (Peking University), Ministry of Education, National Center for Trauma Medicine, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Heng An
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, Daxing Research Institute, School of Chemistry & Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Zhen Gu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, Daxing Research Institute, School of Chemistry & Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Zhe Huang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, Daxing Research Institute, School of Chemistry & Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Fengshi Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People's Hospital, Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration (Peking University), Ministry of Education, National Center for Trauma Medicine, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Bao-Guo Jiang
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People's Hospital, Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration (Peking University), Ministry of Education, National Center for Trauma Medicine, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Yongqiang Wen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, Daxing Research Institute, School of Chemistry & Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Peixun Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People's Hospital, Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration (Peking University), Ministry of Education, National Center for Trauma Medicine, Beijing, 100044, China
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18
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Walczak M, Mancini L, Xu J, Raguseo F, Kotar J, Cicuta P, Di Michele L. A Synthetic Signaling Network Imitating the Action of Immune Cells in Response to Bacterial Metabolism. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2301562. [PMID: 37156014 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202301562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
State-of-the-art bottom-up synthetic biology allows to replicate many basic biological functions in artificial-cell-like devices. To mimic more complex behaviors, however, artificial cells would need to perform many of these functions in a synergistic and coordinated fashion, which remains elusive. Here, a sophisticated biological response is considered, namely the capture and deactivation of pathogens by neutrophil immune cells, through the process of netosis. A consortium consisting of two synthetic agents is designed-responsive DNA-based particles and antibiotic-loaded lipid vesicles-whose coordinated action mimics the sought immune-like response when triggered by bacterial metabolism. The artificial netosis-like response emerges from a series of interlinked sensing and communication pathways between the live and synthetic agents, and translates into both physical and chemical antimicrobial actions, namely bacteria immobilization and exposure to antibiotics. The results demonstrate how advanced life-like responses can be prescribed with a relatively small number of synthetic molecular components, and outlines a new strategy for artificial-cell-based antimicrobial solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Walczak
- Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Leonardo Mancini
- Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Jiayi Xu
- Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, UK
| | - Federica Raguseo
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- fabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Jurij Kotar
- Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Pietro Cicuta
- Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Lorenzo Di Michele
- Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- fabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
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19
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Zhang Y, Riexinger J, Yang X, Mikhailova E, Jin Y, Zhou L, Bayley H. A microscale soft ionic power source modulates neuronal network activity. Nature 2023; 620:1001-1006. [PMID: 37648756 PMCID: PMC10468398 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06295-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Bio-integrated devices need power sources to operate1,2. Despite widely used technologies that can provide power to large-scale targets, such as wired energy supplies from batteries or wireless energy transduction3, a need to efficiently stimulate cells and tissues on the microscale is still pressing. The ideal miniaturized power source should be biocompatible, mechanically flexible and able to generate an ionic current for biological stimulation, instead of using electron flow as in conventional electronic devices4-6. One approach is to use soft power sources inspired by the electrical eel7,8; however, power sources that combine the required capabilities have not yet been produced, because it is challenging to obtain miniaturized units that both conserve contained energy before usage and are easily triggered to produce an energy output. Here we develop a miniaturized soft power source by depositing lipid-supported networks of nanolitre hydrogel droplets that use internal ion gradients to generate energy. Compared to the original eel-inspired design7, our approach can shrink the volume of a power unit by more than 105-fold and it can store energy for longer than 24 h, enabling operation on-demand with a 680-fold greater power density of about 1,300 W m-3. Our droplet device can serve as a biocompatible and biological ionic current source to modulate neuronal network activity in three-dimensional neural microtissues and in ex vivo mouse brain slices. Ultimately, our soft microscale ionotronic device might be integrated into living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | | | - Xingyun Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Yongcheng Jin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Linna Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Hagan Bayley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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20
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Lin AJ, Sihorwala AZ, Belardi B. Engineering Tissue-Scale Properties with Synthetic Cells: Forging One from Many. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:1889-1907. [PMID: 37417657 PMCID: PMC11017731 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
In metazoans, living cells achieve capabilities beyond individual cell functionality by assembling into multicellular tissue structures. These higher-order structures represent dynamic, heterogeneous, and responsive systems that have evolved to regenerate and coordinate their actions over large distances. Recent advances in constructing micrometer-sized vesicles, or synthetic cells, now point to a future where construction of synthetic tissue can be pursued, a boon to pressing material needs in biomedical implants, drug delivery systems, adhesives, filters, and storage devices, among others. To fully realize the potential of synthetic tissue, inspiration has been and will continue to be drawn from new molecular findings on its natural counterpart. In this review, we describe advances in introducing tissue-scale features into synthetic cell assemblies. Beyond mere complexation, synthetic cells have been fashioned with a variety of natural and engineered molecular components that serve as initial steps toward morphological control and patterning, intercellular communication, replication, and responsiveness in synthetic tissue. Particular attention has been paid to the dynamics, spatial constraints, and mechanical strengths of interactions that drive the synthesis of this next-generation material, describing how multiple synthetic cells can act as one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Lin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Ahmed Z Sihorwala
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Brian Belardi
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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21
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Niu J, Liu W, Li JX, Pang X, Liu Y, Zhang C, Yue K, Zhou Y, Xu F, Li X, Li F. Machining water through laser cutting of nanoparticle-encased water pancakes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3853. [PMID: 37386038 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39574-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the inherent disorder and fluidity of water, precise machining of water through laser cutting are challenging. Herein we report a strategy that realizes the laser cutting machining of water through constructing hydrophobic silica nanoparticle-encased water pancakes with sub-millimeter depth. Through theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and experimental studies, the developed process of nanoparticle-encased water pancake laser cutting and the parameters that affect cutting accuracy are verified and elucidated. We demonstrate that laser-fabricated water patterns can form diverse self-supporting chips (SSCs) with openness, transparency, breathability, liquid morphology, and liquid flow control properties. Applications of laser-fabricated SSCs to various fields, including chemical synthesis, biochemical sensing, liquid metal manipulation, patterned hydrogel synthesis, and drug screening, are also conceptually demonstrated. This work provides a strategy for precisely machining water using laser cutting, addressing existing laser machining challenges and holding significance for widespread fields involving fluid patterning and flow control in biological, chemical, materials and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jicheng Niu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
| | - Wenjing Liu
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jasmine Xinze Li
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
| | - Xianglong Pang
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yulin Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
| | - Chao Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
| | - Keyang Yue
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
| | - Yulin Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
| | - Feng Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoguang Li
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Fei Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China.
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P.R. China.
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22
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Koo HB, Heo E, Cho I, Kim SH, Kang J, Chang JB. Human hand-inspired all-hydrogel gripper with a high load capacity formed by the split-brushing adhesion of diverse hydrogels. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:2075-2085. [PMID: 36920793 DOI: 10.1039/d2mh01309f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Human hands are highly versatile. Even though they are primarily made of materials with high water content, they exhibit a high load capacity. However, existing hydrogel grippers do not possess a high load capacity due to their innate softness and mechanical strength. This work demonstrates a human hand-inspired all-hydrogel gripper that can bear more than 47.6 times its own weight. This gripper is made of two hydrogels: poly(methacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) (P(MAAm-co-MAAc)) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). P(MAAm-co-MAAc) is extremely stiff but becomes soft above its transition temperature. By taking advantage of the difference in the kinetics of the stiff-soft transition of P(MAAm-co-MAAc) hydrogels and the swelling-shrinking transition of PNIPAM hydrogels, this gripper can be switched between its stiff-bent and stiff-stretched states by simply changing the temperature. The assembly of these two hydrogels into a gripper necessitated the development of a new hydrogel adhesion method, as existing topological adhesion methods are not applicable to such stiff hydrogels. A new hydrogel adhesion method, termed split-brushing adhesion, has been demonstrated to satisfy this need. When applied to P(MAAm-co-MAAc) hydrogels, this method achieves an adhesion energy of 1221.6 J m-2, which is 67.5 times higher than that achieved with other topological adhesion methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Been Koo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eunseok Heo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - In Cho
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sun Hong Kim
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiheong Kang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae-Byum Chang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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23
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Zeng Z, Li Z, Li Q, Song G, Huo M. Strong and Tough Nanostructured Hydrogels and Organogels Prepared by Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2201592. [PMID: 36965093 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202201592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In nature, the hierarchical structure of biological tissues endows them with outstanding mechanics and elaborated functions. However, it remains a great challenge to construct biomimetic hydrogels with well-defined nanostructures and good mechanical properties. Herein, polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is for the first time exploited as a general strategy for nanostructured hydrogels and organogels with tailored nanodomains and outstanding mechanical properties. As a proof-of-concept, PISA of BAB triblock copolymer is used to fabricate hydrogels with precisely regulated spherical nanodomains. These nanostructured hydrogels are strong, tough, stretchable, and recoverable, with mechanical properties correlating to their nanostructure. The outstanding mechanical properties are ascribed to the unique network architecture, where the entanglements of the hydrophilic chains act as slip links that transmit the tension to the micellar crosslinkers, while the micellar crosslinkers dissipate the energy via reversible deformation and irreversible detachment of the constituting polymers. The general feasibility of the PISA strategy toward nanostructured gels is confirmed by the successful fabrication of nanostructured hydrogels, alcogels, poly(ethylene glycol) gels, and ionogels with various PISA formulations. This work has provided a general platform for the design and fabrication of biomimetic hydrogels and organogels with tailorable nanostructures and mechanics and will inspire the design of functional nanostructured gels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
| | - Ziyun Li
- Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
| | - Qili Li
- Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
| | - Guangjie Song
- CAS Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics and CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Meng Huo
- Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
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24
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Chen M, Gao M, Bai L, Zheng H, Qi HJ, Zhou K. Recent Advances in 4D Printing of Liquid Crystal Elastomers. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2209566. [PMID: 36461147 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202209566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are renowned for their large, reversible, and anisotropic shape change in response to various external stimuli due to their lightly cross-linked polymer networks with an oriented mesogen direction, thus showing great potential for applications in robotics, bio-medics, electronics, optics, and energy. To fully take advantage of the anisotropic stimuli-responsive behaviors of LCEs, it is preferable to achieve a locally controlled mesogen alignment into monodomain orientations. In recent years, the application of 4D printing to LCEs opens new doors for simultaneously programming the mesogen alignment and the 3D geometry, offering more opportunities and higher feasibility for the fabrication of 4D-printed LCE objects with desirable stimuli-responsive properties. Here, the state-of-the-art advances in 4D printing of LCEs are reviewed, with emphasis on both the mechanisms and potential applications. First, the fundamental properties of LCEs and the working principles of the representative 4D printing techniques are briefly introduced. Then, the fabrication of LCEs by 4D printing techniques and the advantages over conventional manufacturing methods are demonstrated. Finally, perspectives on the current challenges and potential development trends toward the 4D printing of LCEs are discussed, which may shed light on future research directions in this new field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Chen
- Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- HP-NTU Digital Manufacturing Corporate Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Ming Gao
- Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- HP-NTU Digital Manufacturing Corporate Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Lichun Bai
- School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410075, China
| | - Han Zheng
- Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - H Jerry Qi
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Kun Zhou
- Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- HP-NTU Digital Manufacturing Corporate Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
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25
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El-Beyrouthy J, Makhoul-Mansour M, Gulle J, Freeman E. Morphogenesis-inspired two-dimensional electrowetting in droplet networks. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2023; 18. [PMID: 37074106 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/acc779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Living tissues dynamically reshape their internal cellular structures through carefully regulated cell-to-cell interactions during morphogenesis. These cellular rearrangement events, such as cell sorting and mutual tissue spreading, have been explained using the differential adhesion hypothesis, which describes the sorting of cells through their adhesive interactions with their neighbors. In this manuscript we explore a simplified form of differential adhesion within a bioinspired lipid-stabilized emulsion approximating cellular tissues. The artificial cellular tissues are created as a collection of aqueous droplets adhered together in a network of lipid membranes. Since this abstraction of the tissue does not retain the ability to locally vary the adhesion of the interfaces through biological mechanisms, instead we employ electrowetting with offsets generated by spatial variations in lipid compositions to capture a simple form of bioelectric control over the tissue characteristics. This is accomplished by first conducting experiments on electrowetting in droplet networks, next creating a model for describing electrowetting in collections of adhered droplets, then validating the model against the experimental measurements. This work demonstrates how the distribution of voltage within a droplet network may be tuned through lipid composition then used to shape directional contraction of the adhered structure using two-dimensional electrowetting events. Predictions from this model were used to explore the governing mechanics for complex electrowetting events in networks, including directional contraction and the formation of new interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce El-Beyrouthy
- School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Michelle Makhoul-Mansour
- School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
- College of Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States of America
| | - Jesse Gulle
- School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Eric Freeman
- School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
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26
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Archer RJ, Hamada S, Shimizu R, Nomura SIM. Scalable Synthesis of Planar Macroscopic Lipid-Based Multi-Compartment Structures. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:4863-4871. [PMID: 36973945 PMCID: PMC10100540 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As life evolved, the path from simple single cell organisms to multicellular enabled increasingly complex functionalities. The spatial separation of reactions at the micron scale achieved by cellular structures allowed diverse and scalable implementation in biomolecular systems. Mimicking such spatially separated domains in a scalable approach could open a route to creating synthetic cell-like structured systems. Here, we report a facile and scalable method to create multicellular-like, multi-compartment (MC) structures. Aqueous droplet-based compartments ranging from 50 to 400 μm were stabilized and connected together by hydrophobic layers composed of phospholipids and an emulsifier. Planar centimeter-scale MC structures were formed by droplet deposition on a water interface. Further, the resulting macroscopic shapes were shown to be achieved by spatially controlled deposition. To demonstrate configurability and potential versatility, MC assemblies of both homogeneous and mixed compartment types were shown. Notably, magnetically heterogeneous systems were achieved by the inclusion of magnetic nanoparticles in defined sections. Such structures demonstrated actuated motion with structurally imparted directionality. These novel and functionalized structures exemplify a route toward future applications including compartmentally assembled "multicellular" molecular robots.
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27
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Zhou X, Zhang N, Kandalai S, Li H, Hossain F, Zhang S, Zhu J, Zhang J, Cui J, Zheng Q. Dynamic and Wearable Electro-responsive Hydrogel with Robust Mechanical Properties for Drug Release. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:17113-17122. [PMID: 36946793 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c21942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Electro-responsive dynamic hydrogels, which possess robust mechanical properties and precise spatiotemporal resolution, have a wide range of applications in biomedicine and energy science. However, it is still challenging to design and prepare electro-responsive hydrogels (ERHs) which have all of these properties. Here, we report one such class of ERHs with these features, based on the direct current voltage (DCV)-induced rearrangement of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles, where the rearrangement can tune the hydrogel networks that are originally maintained by the SDS micelle-assisted hydrophobic interactions. An enlarged mesh size is demonstrated for these ERHs after DCV treatment. Given the unique structure and properties of these ERHs, hydrophobic cargo (thiostrepton) has been incorporated into the hydrogels and is released upon DCV loading. Additionally, these hydrogels are highly stretchable (>6000%) and tough (507 J/m2), showing robust mechanical properties. Moreover, these hydrogels have a high spatiotemporal resolution. As the cross-links within our ERHs are enabled by the non-covalent (i.e., hydrophobic) interactions, these hydrogels are self-healing and malleable. Considering the robust mechanical properties, precise spatiotemporal resolution, dynamic nature (e.g., injectable and self-healing), and on-demand drug delivery ability, this class of ERHs will be of great interest in the fields of wearable bioelectronics and smart drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhuang Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Shruthi Kandalai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Huapeng Li
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Farzana Hossain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Shiqi Zhang
- Human Nutrition Program, Department of Human Sciences, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Jiangjiang Zhu
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Human Nutrition Program, Department of Human Sciences, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Junran Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Jiaxi Cui
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
| | - Qingfei Zheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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28
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Lee YW, Kim JK, Bozuyuk U, Dogan NO, Khan MTA, Shiva A, Wild AM, Sitti M. Multifunctional 3D-Printed Pollen Grain-Inspired Hydrogel Microrobots for On-Demand Anchoring and Cargo Delivery. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2209812. [PMID: 36585849 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202209812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
While a majority of wireless microrobots have shown multi-responsiveness to implement complex biomedical functions, their functional executions are strongly dependent on the range of stimulus inputs, which curtails their functional diversity. Furthermore, their responsive functions are coupled to each other, which results in the overlap of the task operations. Here, a 3D-printed multifunctional microrobot inspired by pollen grains with three hydrogel components is demonstrated: iron platinum (FePt) nanoparticle-embedded pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA), poly N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM), and poly N-isopropylacrylamide acrylic acid (pNIPAM-AAc) structures. Each of these structures exhibits their respective targeted functions: responding to magnetic fields for torque-driven surface rolling and steering, exhibiting temperature responsiveness for on-demand surface attachment (anchoring), and pH-responsive cargo release. The versatile multifunctional pollen grain-inspired robots conceptualized here pave the way for various future medical microrobots to improve their projected performance and functional diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Woo Lee
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jae-Kang Kim
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ugur Bozuyuk
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Nihal Olcay Dogan
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Muhammad Turab Ali Khan
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Anitha Shiva
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Anna-Maria Wild
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
- School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul, 34450, Turkey
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29
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Li Z, Yin F, He W, Hang T, Li Z, Zheng J, Li X, Jiang S, Chen Y. Anti-freezing, recoverable and transparent conductive hydrogels co-reinforced by ethylene glycol as flexible sensors for human motion monitoring. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 230:123117. [PMID: 36603716 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.123117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Wearable flexible sensors based on conductive hydrogels have received extensive attention in the fields of electronic skin and smart monitoring. However, conductive hydrogels contain a large amount of water, which greatly affects their performances in harsh environments. It is therefore necessary to prepare hydrogel sensors that are stable at low temperatures. Herein, metal ions (MgCl2) and ethylene glycol (EG) were combined with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to obtain a conductive PVA/EG hydrogel with tensile strength and elongation at break of 1.1 MPa and 442.3 %, respectively, which could withstand >6000-fold its own weight. The binary solvent system composed of water and EG contributed to the excellent anti-freezing properties and long-term storage (>1 week), flexibility, and stability of the hydrogel even at -20 °C. The wearable PVA/EG hydrogel as a flexible sensor possessed desirable sensing performances with a competitive GF value of 0.725 and fatigue resistance (50 cycles) when used to monitor various human motions and physiological signals. Overall, this hydrogel sensor shows strong potential for application in the fields of human motion monitoring, written information sensing, and information encryption and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaochun Li
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Fuqiang Yin
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Weiwei He
- Key Laboratory of Urban Rail Transit Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Tianyi Hang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Rail Transit Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Zhihui Li
- Key Laboratory of Urban Rail Transit Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Jiajia Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Urban Rail Transit Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
| | - Xiping Li
- Key Laboratory of Urban Rail Transit Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Shaohua Jiang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yiming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Urban Rail Transit Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
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30
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Li W, Guan Q, Li M, Saiz E, Hou X. Nature's strategy to construct tough responsive hydrogel actuators and their applications. Prog Polym Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
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31
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Wang Z, Xiang L, Lin F, Tang Y, Cui W. 3D bioprinting of emulating homeostasis regulation for regenerative medicine applications. J Control Release 2023; 353:147-165. [PMID: 36423869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Homeostasis is the most fundamental mechanism of physiological processes, occurring simultaneously as the production and outcomes of pathological procedures. Accompanied by manufacture and maturation of intricate and highly hierarchical architecture obtained from 3D bioprinting (three-dimension bioprinting), homeostasis has substantially determined the quality of printed tissues and organs. Instead of only shape imitation that has been the remarkable advances, fabrication for functionality to make artificial tissues and organs that act as real ones in vivo has been accepted as the optimized strategy in 3D bioprinting for the next several years. Herein, this review aims to provide not only an overview of 3D bioprinting, but also the main strategies used for homeostasis bioprinting. This paper briefly introduces the principles of 3D bioprinting system applied in homeostasis regulations firstly, and then summarizes the specific strategies and potential trend of homeostasis regulations using multiple types of stimuli-response biomaterials to maintain auto regulation, specifically displaying a brilliant prospect in hormone regulation of homeostasis with the most recently outbreak of vasculature fabrication. Finally, we discuss challenges and future prospects of homeostasis fabrication based on 3D bioprinting in regenerative medicine, hoping to further inspire the development of functional fabrication in 3D bioprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai 200025, PR China
| | - Lei Xiang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai 200025, PR China
| | - Feng Lin
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai 200025, PR China
| | - Yunkai Tang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai 200025, PR China
| | - Wenguo Cui
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai 200025, PR China.
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32
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Cai C, Zhu H, Chen Y, Guo Y, Yang Z, Li H, Liu H. Mechanoactive Nanocomposite Hydrogel to Accelerate Wound Repair in Movable Parts. ACS NANO 2022; 16:20044-20056. [PMID: 36300517 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c07483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic full-thickness skin wound healing remains an intricate problem due to the humid environment and frequent exercise. Recently, multifunctional hydrogels have a great promise in wound repair. However, traditional hydrogels only keep the wound moist, protect the wound from bacterial infection, and cannot actively drive dynamic wound closure. Inspired by embryo wound active closure, we constructed a double-sided thermoresponsive mechanoactive (DTM) hydrogel that combines good flexibility, self-healing, wet-tissue adhesion, and antibacterial functions. The strong adhesion of the hydrogel to biological tissues is attributed to "multiple hydrogen bonding clusters" without any chemical reaction. The contraction force triggered by temperature is quickly transmitted to dynamic wound edges to resist external mechanical forces and drive wound closure, which can effectively avoid damage to surrounding healthy tissue and reduce the risk of scarring, infection, and inflammation caused by sutures, staples, or clips. Strikingly, in vivo, this hydrogel bandage actively enhanced wound repair in a full-thickness skin defect model by promoting collagen deposition, facilitating angiogenesis, and accelerating wound re-epithelialization. This mechanoactive biological method will provide a facile strategy for joint wound management and demonstrates strong potential in tissue remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Huimin Zhu
- Department of Oral Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Yujie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yutong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhi Yang
- Department of Oral and Cranio-maxillofacial Science, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Hua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hezhou Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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33
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Xin F, Lyu Q. A Review on Thermal Properties of Hydrogels for Electronic Devices Applications. Gels 2022; 9:gels9010007. [PMID: 36661775 PMCID: PMC9858193 DOI: 10.3390/gels9010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels, as a series of three-dimensional, crosslinked, hydrophilic network polymers, exhibit extraordinary properties in softness, mechanical robustness and biocompatibility, which have been extensively utilized in various fields, especially for electronic devices. However, since hydrogels contain plenty of water, the mechanical and electrochemical properties are susceptible to temperature. The thermal characteristics of hydrogels can significantly affect the performance of flexible electronic devices. In this review, recent research on the thermal characteristics of hydrogels and their applications in electronic devices is summarized. The focus of future work is also proposed. The thermal stability, thermoresponsiveness and thermal conductivity of hydrogels are discussed in detail. Anti-freezing and anti-drying properties are the critical points for the thermal stability of hydrogels. Methods such as introducing soluble ions and organic solvents into hydrogels, forming ionogels, modifying polymer chains and incorporating nanomaterials can improve the thermal stability of hydrogels under extreme environments. In addition, the critical solution temperature is crucial for thermoresponsive hydrogels. The thermoresponsive capacity of hydrogels is usually affected by the composition, concentration, crosslinking degree and hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics of copolymers. In addition, the thermal conductivity of hydrogels plays a vital role in the electronics applications. Adding nanocomposites into hydrogels is an effective way to enhance the thermal conductivity of hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Xin
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Electronic Equipment Structure Design, Xidian University, Xi’an 710071, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Qiang Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
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Temperature-adaptive hydrogel optical waveguide with soft tissue-affinity for thermal regulated interventional photomedicine. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7789. [PMID: 36526631 PMCID: PMC9758120 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35440-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Photomedicine has gained great attention due to its nontoxicity, good selectivity and small trauma. However, owing to the limited penetration of light and difficult monitoring of the photo-media therapies, it is challenging to apply photomedical treatment in deep tissue as they may damage normal tissues. Herein, a thermal regulated interventional photomedicine based on a temperature-adaptive hydrogel fiber-based optical waveguide (THFOW) is proposed, capable of eliminating deeply seated tumor cells while lowering risks of overtemperature (causes the death of healthy cells around the tumor). The THFOW is fabricated by an integrated homogeneous-dynamic-crosslinking-spinning method, and shows a remarkable soft tissue-affinity (low cytotoxicity, swelling stability, and soft tissue-like Young's modulus). Moreover, the THFOW shows an excellent light propagation property with different wavenumbers (especially -0.32 dB cm-1 with 915 nm laser light), and temperature-gated light propagation effect. The THFOW and relevant therapeutic strategy offer a promising application for intelligent photomedicine in deep issue.
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Wychowaniec JK, Brougham DF. Emerging Magnetic Fabrication Technologies Provide Controllable Hierarchically-Structured Biomaterials and Stimulus Response for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2202278. [PMID: 36228106 PMCID: PMC9731717 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Multifunctional nanocomposites which exhibit well-defined physical properties and encode spatiotemporally-controlled responses are emerging as components for advanced responsive systems. For biomedical applications magnetic nanocomposite materials have attracted significant attention due to their ability to respond to spatially and temporally varying magnetic fields. The current state-of-the-art in development and fabrication of magnetic hydrogels toward biomedical applications is described. There is accelerating progress in the field due to advances in manufacturing capabilities. Three categories can be identified: i) Magnetic hydrogelation, DC magnetic fields are used during solidification/gelation for aligning particles; ii) additive manufacturing of magnetic materials, 3D printing technologies are used to develop spatially-encoded magnetic properties, and more recently; iii) magnetic additive manufacturing, magnetic responses are applied during the printing process to develop increasingly complex structural arrangement that may recapitulate anisotropic tissue structure and function. The magnetic responsiveness of conventionally and additively manufactured magnetic hydrogels are described along with recent advances in soft magnetic robotics, and the categorization is related to final architecture and emergent properties. Future challenges and opportunities, including the anticipated role of combinatorial approaches in developing 4D-responsive functional materials for tackling long-standing problems in biomedicine including production of 3D-specified responsive cell scaffolds are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek K. Wychowaniec
- School of ChemistryUniversity College DublinBelfieldDublin 4Ireland
- AO Research Institute DavosClavadelerstrasse 8Davos7270Switzerland
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Rojek K, Ćwiklińska M, Kuczak J, Guzowski J. Microfluidic Formulation of Topological Hydrogels for Microtissue Engineering. Chem Rev 2022; 122:16839-16909. [PMID: 36108106 PMCID: PMC9706502 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics has recently emerged as a powerful tool in generation of submillimeter-sized cell aggregates capable of performing tissue-specific functions, so-called microtissues, for applications in drug testing, regenerative medicine, and cell therapies. In this work, we review the most recent advances in the field, with particular focus on the formulation of cell-encapsulating microgels of small "dimensionalities": "0D" (particles), "1D" (fibers), "2D" (sheets), etc., and with nontrivial internal topologies, typically consisting of multiple compartments loaded with different types of cells and/or biopolymers. Such structures, which we refer to as topological hydrogels or topological microgels (examples including core-shell or Janus microbeads and microfibers, hollow or porous microstructures, or granular hydrogels) can be precisely tailored with high reproducibility and throughput by using microfluidics and used to provide controlled "initial conditions" for cell proliferation and maturation into functional tissue-like microstructures. Microfluidic methods of formulation of topological biomaterials have enabled significant progress in engineering of miniature tissues and organs, such as pancreas, liver, muscle, bone, heart, neural tissue, or vasculature, as well as in fabrication of tailored microenvironments for stem-cell expansion and differentiation, or in cancer modeling, including generation of vascularized tumors for personalized drug testing. We review the available microfluidic fabrication methods by exploiting various cross-linking mechanisms and various routes toward compartmentalization and critically discuss the available tissue-specific applications. Finally, we list the remaining challenges such as simplification of the microfluidic workflow for its widespread use in biomedical research, bench-to-bedside transition including production upscaling, further in vivo validation, generation of more precise organ-like models, as well as incorporation of induced pluripotent stem cells as a step toward clinical applications.
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37
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Tian H, Wu R, Feng N, Zhang J, Zuo J. Recent advances in hydrogels-based osteosarcoma therapy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1042625. [PMID: 36312544 PMCID: PMC9597306 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1042625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS), as a typical kind of bone tumors, has a high incidence among adolescents. Traditional tumor eradication avenues for OS such as chemotherapy, surgical therapy and radiation therapy usually have their own drawbacks including recurrence and metastasis. In addition, another serious issue in the treatment of OS is bone repair because the bone after tumor invasion usually has difficulty in repairing itself. Hydrogels, as a synthetic or natural platform with a porous three-dimensional structure, can be applied as desirable platforms for OS treatment. They can not only be used as carriers for tumor therapeutic drugs but mimic the extracellular matrix for the growth and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), thus providing tumor treatment and enhancing bone regeneration at the same time. This review focuses the application of hydrogels in OS suppression and bone regeneration, and give some suggests on future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Tian
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ronghui Wu
- Department of Dermatology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Na Feng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinrui Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Jinrui Zhang, ; Jianlin Zuo,
| | - Jianlin Zuo
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Jinrui Zhang, ; Jianlin Zuo,
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38
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Zhu S, Xie G, Cui H, Li Q, Forth J, Yuan S, Tian J, Pan Y, Guo W, Chai Y, Zhang Y, Yang Z, Yu RWH, Yu Y, Liu S, Chao Y, Shen Y, Zhao S, Russell TP, Shum HC. Aquabots. ACS NANO 2022; 16:13761-13770. [PMID: 35904791 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c00619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Soft robots, made from elastomers, easily bend and flex, but deformability constraints severely limit navigation through and within narrow, confined spaces. Using aqueous two-phase systems we print water-in-water constructs that, by aqueous phase-separation-induced self-assembly, produce ultrasoft liquid robots, termed aquabots, comprised of hierarchical structures that span in length scale from the nanoscopic to microsciopic, that are beyond the resolution limits of printing and overcome the deformability barrier. The exterior of the compartmentalized membranes is easily functionalized, for example, by binding enzymes, catalytic nanoparticles, and magnetic nanoparticles that impart sensitive magnetic responsiveness. These ultrasoft aquabots can adapt their shape for gripping and transporting objects and can be used for targeted photocatalysis, delivery, and release in confined and tortuous spaces. These biocompatible, multicompartmental, and multifunctional aquabots can be readily applied to medical micromanipulation, targeted cargo delivery, tissue engineering, and biomimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipei Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Ganhua Xie
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley 94720, California, United States
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Huanqing Cui
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Qingchuan Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Joe Forth
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley 94720, California, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, United Kingdom
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Jingxuan Tian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Yi Pan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Yu Chai
- Department of Physics, The City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Yage Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Zhenyu Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Ryan Wing Hei Yu
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, U.K
| | - Yafeng Yu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Sihan Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Youchuang Chao
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Yinan Shen
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge 02138, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Sai Zhao
- Department of Physics, The City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley 94720, California, United States
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, Massachusetts, United States
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
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Chen J, Peng Q, Peng X, Zhang H, Zeng H. Probing and Manipulating Noncovalent Interactions in Functional Polymeric Systems. Chem Rev 2022; 122:14594-14678. [PMID: 36054924 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Noncovalent interactions, which usually feature tunable strength, reversibility, and environmental adaptability, have been recognized as driving forces in a variety of biological and chemical processes, contributing to the recognition between molecules, the formation of molecule clusters, and the establishment of complex structures of macromolecules. The marriage of noncovalent interactions and conventional covalent polymers offers the systems novel mechanical, physicochemical, and biological properties, which are highly dependent on the binding mechanisms of the noncovalent interactions that can be illuminated via quantification. This review systematically discusses the nanomechanical characterization of typical noncovalent interactions in polymeric systems, mainly through direct force measurements at microscopic, nanoscopic, and molecular levels, which provide quantitative information (e.g., ranges, strengths, and dynamics) on the binding behaviors. The fundamental understandings of intermolecular and interfacial interactions are then correlated to the macroscopic performances of a series of noncovalently bonded polymers, whose functions (e.g., stimuli-responsiveness, self-healing capacity, universal adhesiveness) can be customized through the manipulation of the noncovalent interactions, providing insights into the rational design of advanced materials with applications in biomedical, energy, environmental, and other engineering fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingsi Chen
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Qiongyao Peng
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Xuwen Peng
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Hongbo Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
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40
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Zhu J, Cai LH. All-Aqueous Printing of Viscoelastic Droplets in Yield-Stress Fluids. Acta Biomater 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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41
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Peng X, Wu S, Sun X, Yue L, Montgomery SM, Demoly F, Zhou K, Zhao RR, Qi HJ. 4D Printing of Freestanding Liquid Crystal Elastomers via Hybrid Additive Manufacturing. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2204890. [PMID: 35962737 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202204890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) are appealing candidates among active materials for 4D printing, due to their reversible, programmable and rapid actuation capabilities. Recent progress has been made on direct ink writing (DIW) or Digital Light Processing (DLP) to print LCEs with certain actuation. However, it remains a challenge to achieve complicated structures, such as spatial lattices with large actuation, due to the limitation of printing LCEs on the build platform or the previous layer. Herein, a novel method to 4D print freestanding LCEs on-the-fly by using laser-assisted DIW with an actuation strain up to -40% is proposed. This process is further hybridized with the DLP method for optional structural or removable supports to create active 3D architectures in a one-step additive process. Various objects, including hybrid active lattices, active tensegrity, an actuator with tunable stability, and 3D spatial LCE lattices, can be additively fabricated. The combination of DIW-printed functionally freestanding LCEs with the DLP-printed supporting structures thus provides new design freedom and fabrication capability for applications including soft robotics, smart structures, active metamaterials, and smart wearable devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xirui Peng
- The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Renewable Bioproduct Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Shuai Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Xiaohao Sun
- The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Liang Yue
- The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - S Macrae Montgomery
- The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Frédéric Demoly
- ICB UMR 6303 CNRS, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UTBM, Belfort, 90010, France
| | - Kun Zhou
- Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Ruike Renee Zhao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - H Jerry Qi
- The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Renewable Bioproduct Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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42
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Li Y, Zha Y, Hu W, Chen J, Liu S, Zhang S, Wang J. Monoporous Microsphere as a Dynamically Movable Drug Carrier for Osteoporotic Bone Remodeling. Adv Healthc Mater 2022:e2201242. [PMID: 35948299 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
To repair systematically osteoporotic bone defects, it is significant to take effort on both the diminishment of osteoporosis and the enhancement of bone regeneration. Herein, a specifically monoporous microsphere carrier encapsulating dosage-sensitive and short half-time parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been constructed to tackle the issue. Compared with conventional microsphere carriers involving compact, porous, and mesoporous microspheres, the monoporous microsphere is desirable to achieve precisely in-situ delivery and to minimize topical accumulation. Our findings show that the PTH loaded inside MPMs can be gradually released from the single hole of MPMs to improve the initial drug concentration. Also, the MPMs can self-shift with the daily movement of experimental animals to effectively reduce the topical aggregation of released drugs in vitro. In vivo evaluation further confirms that the implant of MPMs-PTH plays a dual role in stimulating the regenerative repair of the cranial defect and relieving osteoporosis in the whole body. Consequently, our current work develops a dynamically movable drug delivery system to achieve precisely in-situ delivery, minimize topical accumulation, and systematically repair osteoporotic bone defects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawu Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,NMPA Research Base of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Yao Zha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,NMPA Research Base of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Weikang Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,NMPA Research Base of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430062, P. R. China
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,NMPA Research Base of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Shuaibing Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,NMPA Research Base of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Shengmin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Jianglin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,NMPA Research Base of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
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Abstract
Recent years have seen substantial efforts aimed at constructing artificial cells from various molecular components with the aim of mimicking the processes, behaviours and architectures found in biological systems. Artificial cell development ultimately aims to produce model constructs that progress our understanding of biology, as well as forming the basis for functional bio-inspired devices that can be used in fields such as therapeutic delivery, biosensing, cell therapy and bioremediation. Typically, artificial cells rely on a bilayer membrane chassis and have fluid aqueous interiors to mimic biological cells. However, a desire to more accurately replicate the gel-like properties of intracellular and extracellular biological environments has driven increasing efforts to build cell mimics based on hydrogels. This has enabled researchers to exploit some of the unique functional properties of hydrogels that have seen them deployed in fields such as tissue engineering, biomaterials and drug delivery. In this Review, we explore how hydrogels can be leveraged in the context of artificial cell development. We also discuss how hydrogels can potentially be incorporated within the next generation of artificial cells to engineer improved biological mimics and functional microsystems.
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44
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Li J, Jamieson WD, Dimitriou P, Xu W, Rohde P, Martinac B, Baker M, Drinkwater BW, Castell OK, Barrow DA. Building programmable multicompartment artificial cells incorporating remotely activated protein channels using microfluidics and acoustic levitation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4125. [PMID: 35840619 PMCID: PMC9287423 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31898-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular compartments are functional units that support the metabolism within living cells, through spatiotemporal regulation of chemical reactions and biological processes. Consequently, as a step forward in the bottom-up creation of artificial cells, building analogous intracellular architectures is essential for the expansion of cell-mimicking functionality. Herein, we report the development of a droplet laboratory platform to engineer complex emulsion-based, multicompartment artificial cells, using microfluidics and acoustic levitation. Such levitated models provide free-standing, dynamic, definable droplet networks for the compartmentalisation of chemical species. Equally, they can be remotely operated with pneumatic, heating, and magnetic elements for post-processing, including the incorporation of membrane proteins; alpha-hemolysin; and mechanosensitive channel of large-conductance. The assembly of droplet networks is three-dimensionally patterned with fluidic input configurations determining droplet contents and connectivity, whilst acoustic manipulation can be harnessed to reconfigure the droplet network in situ. The mechanosensitive channel can be repeatedly activated and deactivated in the levitated artificial cell by the application of acoustic and magnetic fields to modulate membrane tension on demand. This offers possibilities beyond one-time chemically mediated activation to provide repeated, non-contact, control of membrane protein function. Collectively, this expands our growing capability to program and operate increasingly sophisticated artificial cells as life-like materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK.
| | - William D Jamieson
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK
| | | | - Wen Xu
- Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Aberconway Building, Colum Dr, Cardiff, CF10 3EU, UK
| | - Paul Rohde
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Lowy Packer Building, 405 Liverpool St, Darlinhurst, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Boris Martinac
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Lowy Packer Building, 405 Liverpool St, Darlinhurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.,School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Matthew Baker
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Bruce W Drinkwater
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK.
| | - Oliver K Castell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK.
| | - David A Barrow
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK.
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45
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Parsimehr H, Ehsani A. Stimuli-Responsive Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices. CHEM REC 2022; 22:e202200075. [PMID: 35832003 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202200075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Electrochemical energy storage (EES) devices have been swiftly developed in recent years. Stimuli-responsive EES devices that respond to different external stimuli are considered the most advanced EES devices. The stimuli-responsive EES devices enhanced the performance and applications of the EES devices. The capability of the EES devices to respond to the various external stimuli due to produced advanced EES devices that distinguished the best performance and interactions in different situations. The stimuli-responsive EES devices have responsive behavior to different external stimuli including chemical compounds, electricity, photons, mechanical tensions, and temperature. All of these advanced responsiveness behaviors have originated from the functionality and specific structure of the EES devices. The multi-responsive EES devices have been recognized as the next generation of stimuli-responsive EES devices. There are two main steps in developing stimuli-responsive EES devices in the future. The first step is the combination of the economical, environmental, electrochemical, and multi-responsiveness priorities in an EES device. The second step is obtaining some advanced properties such as biocompatibility, flexibility, stretchability, transparency, and wearability in novel stimuli-responsive EES devices. Future studies on stimuli-responsive EES devices will be allocated to merging these significant two steps to improve the performance of the stimuli-responsive EES devices to challenge complicated situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Parsimehr
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Ali Ehsani
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Qom, Qom, Iran
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Zhang B, Li S, Wang Y, Wu Y, Zhang H. Halloysite nanotube-based self-healing fluorescence hydrogels in fabricating 3D cube containing UV-sensitive QR code information. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 617:353-362. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Huang Z, Wei C, Dong L, Wang A, Yao H, Guo Z, Mi S. Fluid-driven Hydrogel Actuators with an Origami Structure. iScience 2022; 25:104674. [PMID: 35856021 PMCID: PMC9287195 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Owing to the innate good biocompatibility, tissue-like softness and other unique properties, hydrogels are of particular interest as promising compliant materials for biomimetic soft actuators. However, the actuation diversity of hydrogel actuators is always restricted by their structure design and fabrication methods. Herein, origami structures were introduced to the design of fluid-driven hydrogel actuators to achieve diverse actuation movements, and a facile fabrication strategy based on removable templates and inside-out diffusion-induced in situ hydrogel crosslinking was adopted. As a result, three types of modular cuboid actuator units (CAUs) achieved linear motion, bending, and twisting. Moreover, combinations of multiple CAUs achieved different actuation modes, including actuation decoupling, superposition, and reprogramming. The diverse actuation functionality would enable new possibilities in application fields for hydrogel soft actuators. Several simple application demos, such as grippers for grasping tasks and a multi-way circuit switch, demonstrated their potential for further applications. Origami structures were introduced to fluid-driven hydrogel actuators Three types of cuboid actuator units (CAUs) achieved linear motion, bending, and twisting A fabrication strategy was based on removable templates and in situ formation Combinations of multiple CAUs achieved different actuation modes
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Cao D, Xie Y, Song J. DNA Hydrogels in the Perspective of Mechanical Properties. Macromol Rapid Commun 2022; 43:e2200281. [PMID: 35575627 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Tailoring the mechanical properties has always been a key to the field of hydrogels in terms of different applications. Particularly, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hydrogels offer an unambiguous way to precisely tune the mechanical properties, largely on account of their programmable sequences, abundant responding toolbox, and various ligation approaches. In this review, DNA hydrogels from the perspective of mechanical properties, from synthetic standpoint to different applications are introduced. The relationship between the structure and their mechanical properties in DNA hydrogels and the methods of regulating the mechanical properties of DNA hydrogels are specifically summarized. Furthermore, several recent applications of DNA hydrogels in relation to their mechanical properties are discussed. Benefiting from the tunability and flexibility, rational design of mechanical properties in DNA hydrogels provided unheralded interest from fundamental science to extensive applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengjie Cao
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yujie Xie
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Jie Song
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.,Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, P. R. China
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Frank BD, Djalali S, Baryzewska AW, Giusto P, Seeberger PH, Zeininger L. Reversible morphology-resolved chemotactic actuation and motion of Janus emulsion droplets. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2562. [PMID: 35538083 PMCID: PMC9091213 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30229-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We report, for the first time, a chemotactic motion of emulsion droplets that can be controllably and reversibly altered. Our approach is based on using biphasic Janus emulsion droplets, where each phase responds differently to chemically induced interfacial tension gradients. By permanently breaking the symmetry of the droplets’ geometry and composition, externally evoked gradients in surfactant concentration or effectiveness induce anisotropic Marangoni-type fluid flows adjacent to each of the two different exposed interfaces. Regulation of the competitive fluid convections then enables a controllable alteration of the speed and the direction of the droplets’ chemotactic motion. Our findings provide insight into how compositional anisotropy can affect the chemotactic behavior of purely liquid-based microswimmers. This has implications for the design of smart and adaptive soft microrobots that can autonomously regulate their response to changes in their chemical environment by chemotactically moving towards or away from a certain target, such as a bacterium. Artificial microswimmers can emulate the autonomous regulation of chemotactic motility of living organisms. Frank et al. realize a chemotactic locomotion of emulsion droplets, composed of two phase-separated fluids, that can be reversibly directed up or down a chemical concentration gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley D Frank
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Saveh Djalali
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Agata W Baryzewska
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Paolo Giusto
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Peter H Seeberger
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lukas Zeininger
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
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Out-of-equilibrium chemical logic systems: Light and sound controlled programmable spatiotemporal patterns and mechanical functions. Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2022.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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