Zhang Lihao, Ren Lehao, Li Sunlong, Xiong Minli, Cao Yue, Chen Yufei, Lu Weipeng, Liu Cihui, Luo Shengzheng
Center for Future Optoelectronic Functional Materials, School of Computer and Electronic Information/School of Artificial Intelligence, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 20024, China.
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
Mater Today Bio. 2024 Aug 28;28:101216. doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101216. eCollection 2024 Oct.
Soft-bodied aquatic organisms exhibit extraordinary navigation and mobility in liquid environments which inspiring the development of biomimetic actuators with complex movements. Stimulus-responsive soft materials including hydrogels and shape-memory polymers are replacing traditional rigid parts that leading to dynamic and responsive soft actuators. In this study, we took inspiration from water strider to develop a biomimetic actuator for targeted stimulation and pH sensing in the gastrointestinal tract. We designed a soft and water-based Janus adhesive hydrogel patch that attaches to specific parts of the intestine and responds to pH changes through external stimulation. The hydrogel patch that forms the belly of the water strider driver incorporates an inverse opal microstructure that enables pH responsive behavior. The hydrogel patch on the water strider's leg uses a sandwich structure of Cu particles to convert light into heat and bend under infrared light to mimic the water strider's leg simulating the efficient and steady movement of the water strider's leg which transporting the biological fluid in one direction. This miniature bionic actuator demonstrates controlled adhesion and unidirectional biofluid delivery capabilities, proving its potential for targeted stimulus response and pH sensing in the gastrointestinal tract, thus opening up new possibilities for medical applications in the growing field of soft actuators.
软体水生生物在液体环境中展现出非凡的导航和移动能力，这激发了具有复杂运动的仿生致动器的发展。包括水凝胶和形状记忆聚合物在内的刺激响应性软材料正在取代传统的刚性部件，从而产生动态且响应灵敏的软致动器。在本研究中，我们从水黾身上获得灵感，开发了一种用于胃肠道靶向刺激和pH传感的仿生致动器。我们设计了一种柔软的、基于水的双面粘性水凝胶贴片，它能附着在肠道的特定部位，并通过外部刺激对pH变化做出响应。构成水黾驱动器腹部的水凝胶贴片包含一种反蛋白石微结构，使其具有pH响应行为。水黾腿部的水凝胶贴片采用铜颗粒夹心结构，将光转化为热，并在红外光下弯曲，以模仿水黾的腿部，模拟水黾腿部高效稳定地向一个方向输送生物流体的运动。这种微型仿生致动器展示了可控的粘附和单向生物流体输送能力，证明了其在胃肠道靶向刺激响应和pH传感方面的潜力，从而为软致动器这一不断发展的领域中的医学应用开辟了新的可能性。
