Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics.

ABSTRACT: Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have garnered significant attention as a versatile class of soft actuators. Introducing anisotropic properties, and shape-change programmability to responsive hydrogels promises a host of opportunities in the development of soft robots. Herein we report the synthesis of pH-responsive hydrogel nanocomposites with predetermined microstructural anisotropy, shape-transformation, and self-healing. Our hydrogel nanocomposites are largely composed of zwitterionic monomers and asymmetric cellulose nanocrystals. While the zwitterionic nature of the network imparts both self-healing and cytocompatibility to our hydrogel nanocomposites, the shear-induced alignment of cellulose nanocrystals renders their anisotropic swelling and mechanical properties. Thanks to the self-he

SUBMITTER: Nasseri R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10542366 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature