Active Pulsatile Gels: From a Chemical Microreactor to a Polymeric Actuator

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03784
• Publication Date: 2024-02-22T14:54:19Z
• Authors: Baptiste Blanc; Zhenkun Zhang; Eric Liu; Ning Zhou; Ippolyti Dellatolas; Ali Aghvami; Hyunmin Yi; Seth Fraden
• Keywords: Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction; Microreactor; Oscillation (cell signaling); Pulsatile flow

We report on a synthesis protocol, experimental characterization, and theoretical modeling of active pulsatile Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) hydrogels. Our two-step technique allows independent optimization the geometry, chemical, mechanical properties BZ gels. identify role surrounding medium chemistry gel radius for occurrence oscillations, quantified by Damköhler number, which is ratio chemical reaction to diffusion rates. Tuning size maximize its chemomechanical oscillation amplitude, we find that oscillatory strain amplitude limited time scale swelling relative period. findings are in good agreement with Vanag–Epstein model Tanaka Fillmore theory dynamics.