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Sheikhi MR, Gürgen S. Intelligent Polymers for Multi-Functional Applications: Mechanical and Electrical Aspects. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:2620. [PMID: 37376265 DOI: 10.3390/polym15122620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we fabricated an intelligent material, shear stiffening polymer (SSP), and reinforced it with carbon nanotube (CNT) fillers to obtain intelligent mechanical and electrical properties. The SSP was enhanced with multi-functional behavior, such as electrical conductivity and stiffening texture. Various amounts of CNT fillers were distributed in this intelligent polymer up to a loading rate of 3.5 wt%. The mechanical and electrical aspects of the materials were investigated. Regarding the mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical analysis was carried out, as well as conducting shape stability and free-fall tests. Viscoelastic behavior was investigated in the dynamic mechanical analysis, whereas cold-flowing and dynamic stiffening responses were studied in shape stability and free-fall tests, respectively. On the other hand, electrical resistance measurements were carried out to understand the conductive behavior of the polymers of the electrical properties. Based on these results, CNT fillers enhance the elastic nature of the SSP while initiating the stiffening behavior at lower frequencies. Moreover, CNT fillers provide higher shape stability, hindering the cold flow in the material. Lastly, SSP gained an electrically conductive nature from the CNT fillers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Rauf Sheikhi
- Key Laboratory of Traffic Safety on Track of Ministry of Education, School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Key Technology for Rail Traffic Safety, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Shaanxi ERC of NDT and Structural Integrity Evaluation, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Selim Gürgen
- Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir 26040, Turkey
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Abstract
Dental caries is a biofilm-related preventable infectious disease caused by interactions between the oral bacteria and the host’s dietary sugars. As the microenvironments in cariogenic biofilms are often acidic, pH-sensitive drug delivery systems have become innovative materials for dental caries prevention in recent years. In the present study, poly(DMAEMA-co-HEMA) was used as a pH-sensitive carrier to synthesize a chlorhexidine (CHX)-loaded nanomaterial (p(DH)@CHX). In vitro, p(DH)@CHX exhibited good pH sensitivity and a sustained and high CHX release rate in the acidic environment. It also exhibited lower cytotoxicity against human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) compared to free CHX. Besides, compared with free CHX, p(DH)@CHX showed the same antibacterial effects on S. mutans biofilms. In addition, it had no effect on eradicating healthy saliva-derived biofilm, while free CHX exhibited an inhibitory effect. Furthermore, the 16s rDNA sequencing results showed that p(DH)@CHX had the potential to alter oral microbiota composition and possibly reduce caries risk. In conclusion, the present study presents an alternative option to design an intelligent material to prevent and treat dental caries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qi Han
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Oral Pathology, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruiting Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Haohao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xian Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Abstract
The bottom-up synthesis of cell-like entities or protocells from inanimate molecules and materials is one of the grand challenges of our time. In the past decade, researchers in the emerging field of bottom-up synthetic biology have developed different protocell models and engineered them to mimic one or more abilities of biological cells, such as information transcription and translation, adhesion, and enzyme-mediated metabolism. Whilst thus far efforts have focused on increasing the biochemical complexity of individual protocells, an emerging challenge in bottom-up synthetic biology is the development of networks of communicating synthetic protocells. The possibility of engineering multi-protocellular systems capable of sending and receiving chemical signals to trigger individual or collective programmed cell-like behaviours or for communicating with living cells and tissues would lead to major scientific breakthroughs with important applications in biotechnology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This mini-review will discuss this new, emerging area of bottom-up synthetic biology and will introduce three types of bioinspired networks of communicating synthetic protocells that have recently emerged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J. Grimes
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Agostino Galanti
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Gobbo
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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Zhou Y, He B, Yan Z, Shang Y, Wang Q, Wang Z. Touch Locating and Stretch Sensing Studies of Conductive Hydrogels with Applications to Soft Robots. Sensors (Basel) 2018; 18:E569. [PMID: 29438318 PMCID: PMC5855004 DOI: 10.3390/s18020569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Soft robots possess great potential in environmental adaptations, while their environmental sensing abilities are critical. Conductive hydrogels have been suggested to possess sensing abilities. However, their application in soft robots is lacking. In this work, we fabricated a soft and stretchable gel material, introduced its sensing mechanisms, and developed a measurement setup. Both experimental and simulation studies indicate strong nonlinearity of touch locating on a square touch panel with Cartesian coordinates. To simplify the touch locating, we proposed a touch locating system based on round touch panels with polar coordinates. Mathematical calculations and finite element method (FEM) simulations showed that in this system the locating of a touch point was only determined by its polar radius. This was verified by experimental studies. As a resistor, a gel strip's resistance increases with stretching. To demonstrate their applications on soft robots, a 3D printed three-fingered soft gripper was employed with gel strips attached. During finger bending for rod grasping, the resistances of the gel strips increased, indicating stretching of the soft material. Furthermore, the strain and stress of a gel strip increased with a decrease of the rod diameter. These studies advance the application of conductive hydrogels on soft robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmin Zhou
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China.
| | - Bin He
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China.
| | - Zhe Yan
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China.
| | - Yinghui Shang
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Qigang Wang
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Zhipeng Wang
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China.
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