Four-Dimensional Printing of Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel-Based Soft Robots

Summary

This manuscript describes a 4D printing strategy for fabricating intelligent stimuli-responsive soft robots. This approach can provide the groundwork to facilitate the realization of intelligent shape-transformable soft robotic systems, including smart manipulators, electronics, and healthcare systems.

Abstract

The present protocol describes the creation of four-dimensional (4D), time-dependent, shape-changeable, stimuli-responsive soft robots using a three-dimensional (3D) bio-printing method. Recently, 4D printing techniques have been extensively proposed as innovative new methods for developing shape-transformable soft robots. In particular, 4D time-dependent shape transformation is an essential factor in soft robotics because it allows effective functions to occur at the right time and place when triggered by external cues, such as heat, pH, and light. In line with this perspective, stimuli-responsive materials, including hydrogels, polymers, and hybrids, can be printed to realize smart shape-transformable soft robotic systems. The current protocol can be used to fabricate thermally responsive soft grippers composed of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)-based hydrogels, with overall sizes ranging from millimeters to centimeters in length. It is expected that this study will provide new directions for realizing intelligent soft robotic systems for various applications in smart manipulators (e.g., grippers, actuators, and pick-and-place machines), healthcare systems (e.g., drug capsules, biopsy tools, and microsurgeries), and electronics (e.g., wearable sensors and fluidics).

Introduction

The development of stimuli-responsive soft robots is important from both technical and intellectual perspectives. The term stimuli-responsive soft robots generally refers to devices/systems composed of hydrogels, polymers, elastomers, or hybrids that exhibit shape changes in response to external cues, such as heat, pH, and light^1,2,3,4. Among the many stimuli-responsive soft robots, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) hydrogel-based soft robots perform the desired tasks or interactions using spontaneous shape transformation

Protocol

The stimuli-responsive soft gripper was composed of three different types of hydrogels: non-stimuli-responsive acrylamide (AAm)-based hydrogel, thermally responsive N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM)-based hydrogel, and magnetic responsive ferrogel (Figure 1). The three hydrogel inks were prepared by modifying previously published methods^29,30,31. The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

1. Preparation of hydrogel inks

1. Non-stimuli-respons....

Results

The NIPAM-based hydrogel was primarily considered when designing the thermally responsive soft gripper owing to its sharp LCST, which causes it to exhibit significant swelling-deswelling properties^9,10. In addition, the AAm-based hydrogel was considered as a non-stimuli-responsive system to maximize the shape transformation of the soft hybrid gripper while reducing the delamination of the interface during multiple heating and cooling processes. In addition, ferro.......

Discussion

In terms of material selection for the soft hybrid gripper, a multi-responsive material system composed of a non-stimuli-responsive AAm-based hydrogel, a thermally responsive NIPAM-based hydrogel, and a magnetic-responsive ferrogel was first prepared to allow the soft hybrid gripper to exhibit programmable locomotion and shape transformation. Owing to their thermally responsive swelling-deswelling properties, NIPAM-based hydrogels exhibit bending, folding, or wrinkling when fabricated as bilayer or bi-strip structures wi.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
2-Hydroxy-4'-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-2-methylpropiophenone	Sigma Aldrich	410896-50G	Irgacure 2959, photoinitiator
3D WOX 2X	sindoh	n/a	3D printer for fabricating a maze
Acrylamide	Sigma-Aldrich	29-007	≥99%
Airbrush compressor	WilTec	AF18-2
Ammonium persulfate	Sigma Aldrich	A4418
Auto CAD	Autodesk	n/a	software for computer-aided-design file
BLX UV crosslinker	BIO-LINK	U01-133-565
Cartridge	CELLINK	CSC010300102
Digital stirring Hot Plates	Corning	6798-420D
Fluorescein O-methacrylate	Sigma Aldrich	568864	dye of AAm gel
INKREDIBLE+ bioprinter	CELLINK	n/a
Iron(III) Oxide red	DUKSAN general science	I0231
Laponite RD	BYK	n/a	nanoclay
Microcentrifuge tube	SPL	60615
Micro stirrer bar	Cowie	27-00360-08	Φ3×0
N, N, N', N'-tetramethylethylenediamine	Sigma Aldrich	T7024-100ML
N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide	Sigma Aldrich	M7279	≥99.5%
N-isopropylacrylamide	Sigma-Aldrich	415324-50G
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)	Sigma-Aldrich	535311
Rhodamine 6G	Sigma Aldrich	R4127	dye of NIPAM gel
Slic3r software (v1.2.9)	Slic3r	n/a	open-source software to convert .stl file to gcode
Sodium hydroxide beads	Sigma Aldrich	S5881
Sterile high-precision conical bioprinting nozzles	CELLINK	NZ3270005001	22 G, 25 G
Syringe	Korea vaccine	K07415389	10 CC 21 G (1-1/4 INCH)
Vortex mixer	DAIHAN	DH.WVM00030