Force-triggered Rapid Microstructure Growth on Hydrogel Surface for On-demand Functions

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2022 Oct 20

PMID 36266283

Authors

Qifeng Mu

Kunpeng Cui

Zhi Jian Wang

Takahiro Matsuda

Wei Cui

Hinako Kato

Shotaro Namiki

Tomoko Yamazaki

Martin Frauenlob

Takayuki Nonoyama

Masumi Tsuda

Shinya Tanaka

Tasuku Nakajima

Jian Ping Gong

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Living organisms share the ability to grow various microstructures on their surface to achieve functions. Here we present a force stamp method to grow microstructures on the surface of hydrogels based on a force-triggered polymerisation mechanism of double-network hydrogels. This method allows fast spatial modulation of the morphology and chemistry of the hydrogel surface within seconds for on-demand functions. We demonstrate the oriented growth of cells and directional transportation of water droplets on the engineered hydrogel surfaces. This force-triggered method to chemically engineer the hydrogel surfaces provides a new tool in addition to the conventional methods using light or heat, and will promote the wide application of hydrogels in various fields.

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