A bioinspired hydrogen bond-triggered ultrasensitive ionic mechanoreceptor skin.

ABSTRACT: Biological cellular structures have inspired many scientific disciplines to design synthetic structures that can mimic their functions. Here, we closely emulate biological cellular structures in a rationally designed synthetic multicellular hybrid ion pump, composed of hydrogen-bonded [EMIM⁺][TFSI^-] ion pairs on the surface of silica microstructures (artificial mechanoreceptor cells) embedded into thermoplastic polyurethane elastomeric matrix (artificial extracellular matrix), to fabricate ionic mechanoreceptor skins. Ionic mechanoreceptors engage in hydrogen bond-triggered reversible pumping of ions under external stimulus. Our ionic mechanoreceptor skin is ultrasensitive (48.1-5.77 kPa^-1) over a wide spectrum of pressures (0-135 kPa) at an ultra-low volta

SUBMITTER: Amoli V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6728325 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature