AI Article Synopsis
- Smart materials like protein hydrogels can change shape in response to stimuli, which could improve fields like medicine and robotics.
- This study presents a method to program these hydrogels, made from serum albumin, to shift shapes by altering their stiffness using metal cations (Zn or Cu).
- The programmed hydrogels can return to their original shape when the cations dissipate, showcasing their potential use as actuators in various applications.
Article Abstract
Smart materials that are capable of memorizing a temporary shape, and morph in response to a stimulus, have the potential to revolutionize medicine and robotics. Here, we introduce an innovative method to program protein hydrogels and to induce shape changes in aqueous solutions at room temperature. We demonstrate our approach using hydrogels made from serum albumin, the most abundant protein in the blood plasma, which are synthesized in a cylindrical or flower shape. These gels are then programmed into a spring or a ring shape, respectively. The programming is performed through a marked change in stiffness (of up to 17-fold), induced by adsorption of Zn or Cu cations. We show that these programmed biomaterials can then morph back into their original shape, as the cations diffuse outside the hydrogel material. The approach demonstrated here represents an innovative strategy to program protein-based hydrogels to behave as actuators.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7190360 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aba6112 | DOI Listing |
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