A new bioprinting method is reported for fabricating 3D tissue constructs replete with vasculature, multiple types of cells, and extracellular matrix. These intricate, heterogeneous structures are created by precisely co-printing materials, known as bioinks, in three dimensions. micro-engineered environments open ­avenues drug screening fundamental studies wound healing, angiogenesis, stem-cell niches. As a service to our authors readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied...

A new method, embedded-3D printing (e-3DP), is reported for fabricating strain sensors within highly conformal and extensible elastomeric matrices. e-3DP allows soft to be created in nearly arbitrary planar 3D motifs a programmable seamless manner. Several embodiments are demonstrated sensor performance characterized. As service our authors readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by the authors. Such materials peer reviewed may re-organized online delivery, but not...

Engineering organ-specific tissues for therapeutic applications is a grand challenge, requiring the fabrication and maintenance of densely cellular constructs composed ~108 cells/ml. Organ building blocks (OBBs) patient-specific-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids offer pathway to achieving with requisite density, microarchitecture, function. However, date, scant attention has been devoted their assembly into 3D tissue constructs. Here, we report biomanufacturing method...

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are soft materials capable of large, reversible shape changes, which may find potential application as artificial muscles, robots, and dynamic functional architectures. Here, the design additive manufacturing LCE actuators (LCEAs) with spatially programed nematic order that exhibit reversible, repeatable contraction high specific work capacity reported. First, a photopolymerizable, solvent-free, main-chain ink is created via aza-Michael addition appropriate...

Humans possess manual dexterity, motor skills, and other physical abilities that rely on feedback provided by the somatosensory system. Herein, a method is reported for creating soft somatosensitive actuators (SSAs) via embedded 3D printing, which are innervated with multiple conductive features simultaneously enable haptic, proprioceptive, thermoceptive sensing. This novel manufacturing approach enables seamless integration of ionically fluidic within elastomeric matrices to produce SSAs...

Shape-morphing structured materials have the ability to transform a range of applications. However, their design and fabrication remain challenging due difficulty controlling underlying metric tensor in space time. Here, we exploit combination multiple materials, geometry, 4-dimensional (4D) printing create heterogeneous lattices that overcome this problem. Our printable inks are composed elastomeric matrices with tunable cross-link density anisotropic filler enable precise control elastic...

Embedded three-dimensional (EMB3D) printing is an emerging technique that enables free-form fabrication of complex architectures. In this approach, a nozzle translated omnidirectionally within soft matrix surrounds and supports the patterned material. To optimize print fidelity, we have investigated effects viscoplasticity on EMB3D process. Specifically, determine how composition, path speed, diameter affect yielded region matrix. By characterizing velocity strain fields analyzing dimensions...

Creating soft robots with sophisticated, autonomous capabilities requires these systems to possess reliable, on-line proprioception of 3D configuration through integrated sensors. We present a framework for predicting robot's via deep learning using feedback from soft, proprioceptive sensor skin. Our introduces kirigami-enabled strategy rapidly sensorizing off-the-shelf materials, general kinematic description robot geometry, and an investigation neural network designs configuration. Even...

Silver nanoplates are introduced as a new photoacoustic contrast agent that can be easily functionalized for molecular imaging in vivo. Methods described synthesis, functionalization, and stabilization of silver using biocompatible ("green") reagents. Directional antibody conjugation to the nanoplate surface is presented along with proof sensitivity vitro pancreatic cancer cells. Cell viability tests show antibody-conjugated nontoxic at concentrations up 1 mg/mL. Furthermore, nanoplates'...

Light- and ink-based 3D printing methods have vastly expanded the design space geometric complexity of architected ceramics. However, light-based are typically confined to a relatively narrow range preceramic particle-laden resins, while limited in due layerwise assembly. Here, embedded is combined with microwave-activated curing generate ceramics spatially controlled composition freeform shapes. Aqueous colloidal inks printed within support matrix, rapidly cured via polymerization,...

Soft robotic grippers enable gentle, adaptive, and bioinspired manipulation that is simply not possible using traditional rigid robots. However, it has remained challenging to create multi-degree-of-freedom soft actuators with appropriate sensory capabilities for manipulators requiring greater dexterity closed-loop control. In this work, we use embedded 3D printing produce fingers discrete actuation modes integrated ionogel sensors provide proprioceptive tactile sensing corresponding each...

Unlike traditional robots, soft robots can intrinsically interact with their environment in a continuous, robust, and safe manner. These abilities - the new opportunities they open motivate development of algorithms that provide reliable information on nature environmental interactions and, thereby, enable to reason properly react external contact events. However, directly extracting such integrated sensors remains an arduous task is further complicated by also needing sense robot's...

Multifunctional materials with distributed sensing and programmed mechanical properties are required for myriad emerging technologies. However, current fabrication techniques constrain these materials’ design capabilities. We address needs a method sensorizing architected through fluidic innervation, where networks of empty, air-filled channels directly embedded within an material’s sparse geometry. By measuring pressure changes channels, we receive feedback regarding material deformation....

Recent advances in computational design and 3D printing enable the fabrication of polymer lattices with high strength-to-weight ratio tailored mechanics. To date, composed monolithic materials have primarily been constructed due to limitations associated most commercial platforms. Here, freeform multi-material via embedded three-dimensional (EMB3D) is demonstrated. An algorithm developed first that generates print paths for each target lattice based on graph theory. The effects ink rheology...

Magneto-photo-acoustic imaging, a technique based on the synergy of magneto-motive ultrasound, photoacoustic and ultrasound is introduced. Hybrid nanoconstructs, liposomes encapsulating gold nanorods iron oxide nanoparticles, were used as dual-contrast agent for magneto-photo-acoustic imaging. Tissue-mimicking phantom macrophage cells embedded in ex vivo porcine tissue to demonstrate that imaging capable visualizing location or tissues labeled with nanoparticles sufficient contrast,...

Previously, pulsed magneto-motive ultrasound (pMMUS) imaging has been introduced as a contrast-agent-assisted ultrasound-based modality capable of visualizing biological events at the cellular and molecular level. In pMMUS imaging, high intensity magnetic field is used to excite cells or tissue labeled with nanoparticles. Then, (US) monitor mechanical response an externally applied (i.e., displacement). Signal noise ratio (SNR) in can be improved by using superparamagnetic nanoparticles...

Soft robotics aims to close the performance gap between built and biological machines through materials design. robots are constructed from soft, actuatable be physically intelligent, or have traits that living organisms possess such as passive adaptability morphological computation their compliant, deformable bodies. However, selection for physical intelligence often involves low-performance and/or energy-inefficient, stimuli-responsive actuation. Additional challenges in soft robot...

Structural electrolytes present advantages over liquid varieties, which are critical to myriad applications. In particular, structural based on polymerized ionic liquids or poly(ionic liquids) (pILs) provide wide electrochemical windows, high thermal stability, nonvolatility, and modular chemistry. However, current methods of fabricating from pILs their composites limitations. Recent advances have been made in 3D printing pIL electrolytes, but techniques limit the complexity forms that can...

To advance the design space of electrically‐driven soft actuators, a flexible, architected robotic actuator is presented for motor‐driven extensional motion. The comprises 3D printed, cylindrical handed shearing auxetic (HSA) structure and deformable, internal rubber bellows shaft. linearly extends upon applying torque from servo motor; shaft stretchable but resistant to torsional deflection, allowing it transmit motor other end HSA. high flexibility HSA enable adaptively extend even when...

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEViewpointNEXTDesigning Soft Robots as Robotic MaterialsRyan L. Truby*Ryan TrubyDepartments of Materials Science and Engineering Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States*Email: [email protected]More by Ryan Trubyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1313-6463Cite this: Acc. Mater. Res. 2021, 2, 10, 854–857Publication Date (Web):October 12, 2021Publication History Received5 April 2021Published...

Electrically-mediated actuation schemes offer great promise beyond popular pneumatic and suction based ones in soft robotics.However, they often rely on bespoke materials manufacturing approaches that constrain design flexibility widespread adoption.Following the recent introduction of a class architected called handed shearing auxetics (HSAs), we present 3D printing method for rapidly fabricating HSAs HSA-based robots can be directly driven by servo motors.To date, HSA fabrication has been...

Hybrid nanostructures with unique optical and magnetic properties have attracted considerable interest as effective mediators for medical imaging therapy. An aqueous-based, self-assembly approach to synthesizing hybrid plasmonic–superparamagnetic is presented. The building blocks of the nanostructure include plasmonic gold nanorods (AuNRs) superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). AuNRs were functionalized via carboxyl-bearing surface ligands, SPIONs kept "bare" after synthesis a...

J. A. Lewis and co-workers report on page 3124 a new bio-printing method for fabricating 3D tissue constructs replete with vasculature, multiple types of cells, extracellular matrix. These intricate, heterogeneous structures are created by precisely co-printing materials, known as bio-inks, in three dimensions. microengineered environments open avenues drug screening engineering. Cover image Helena Sue Martin, David Kolesky, Jennifer (Harvard University).