Covalent-supramolecular hybrid polymers as muscle-inspired anisotropic actuators

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04800-w
• Publication Date: 2018-06-15T14:40:52Z
• Authors: Stacey M. Chin; Christopher V. Sy...; Shuangping Liu; Rikkert J. Nap; Nicholas A. Sather; Qifeng Wang; Zaida Álvarez; Alexandra N. Edel...; Timmy Fyrner; Liam C. Palmer; Igal Szleifer; Monica Olvera de ...; Samuel I. Stupp
• Keywords: Supramolecular Polymers

Skeletal muscle provides inspiration on how to achieve reversible, macroscopic, anisotropic motion in soft materials. Here we report the bottom-up design of macroscopic tubes that exhibit actuation driven by a thermal stimulus. The tube is built from hydrogel which extremely long supramolecular nanofibers are aligned using weak shear forces, followed radial growth thermoresponsive polymers their surfaces. hierarchically ordered exhibits reversible with changes temperature, much greater contraction perpendicular direction nanofiber alignment. We identify two critical factors for actuation, alignment scaffold and its covalent bonding polymer chains. Using finite element analysis molecular calculations, conclude chain confinement mechanical reinforcement rigid responsible actuation. work reported suggests strategies create active matter molecularly encoded capacity perform complex tasks.