Hydrogels with prestressed tensegrity structures.

ABSTRACT: Tensegrity structures are isolated rigid compression components held in place by a continuous network of tensile components, and are central to natural systems such as the extracellular matrix and the cell cytoskeleton. These structures enable the nonreciprocal mechanical properties essential for dynamic biological functions. Here, we introduce a synthetic approach to engineer hydrogels with tensegrity architectures, drawing inspiration from the mechanochemical principles underlying biological systems. By employing in-situ enzyme-induced amino acid crystal growth within preformed polymeric networks, we achieve a hierarchical integration of micro crystal sticks randomly interlocked in the prestressed polymer matrice. This design mirrors natural tensegrity structures, balancing mechanical fo

SUBMITTER: Xue B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12003825 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature