Traditional robotic grippers encounter significant challenges when handling small objects in confined spaces,underscoring the need for innovative instruments with enhanced space efficiency and adaptability.Erodium cic...Traditional robotic grippers encounter significant challenges when handling small objects in confined spaces,underscoring the need for innovative instruments with enhanced space efficiency and adaptability.Erodium cicutarium awns have evolved hygroresponsive helical deformation,efficiently driving seeds into soil crevices with limited space utilization.Drawing inspiration from this natural mechanism,we developed a biomimetic thin-walled actuator with water-responsive helical capabilities.It features a composite material structure comprising common engineering materials with low toxicity.Leveraging fused deposition modeling 3D printing technology and the composite impregnation process,the actuator’s manufacturing process is streamlined and cost-effective,suitable for real-world applications.Then,a mathematical model is built to delineate the relationship between the biomimetic actuator’s key structural parameters and deformation characteristics.The experimental results emphasize the actuator’s compact dimension(0.26 mm thickness)and its capability to form a helical tube under 5 mm diameter within 60 s,demonstrating outstanding space efficiency.Moreover,helical characteristics and stiffness of the biomimetic actuators are configurable through precise modifications to the composite material structure.Consequently,it is capable of effectively grasping an object smaller than 3 mm.The innovative mechanism and design principles hold promise for advancing robotic technology,particularly in fields requiring high space efficiency and adaptability,such as fine tubing decongestion,underwater sampling,and medical endoscopic surgery.展开更多
Background:Skin,being a vital organ that regulates physiological responses in the human body,is prone to injury from external environmental factors.Healing full-thickness skin defects becomes especially challenging wh...Background:Skin,being a vital organ that regulates physiological responses in the human body,is prone to injury from external environmental factors.Healing full-thickness skin defects becomes especially challenging when infections and vascular injuries are involved.Traditional wound dressings with single functions,such as antibacterial or angiogenic properties,fall short in achieving rapid wound healing.To address this,there is a need to develop wound dressing materials that possess both effective antibacterial and angiogenic properties.Methods:In this study,we utilized electrospinning technology to fabricate hyaluronic acid-cellulose acetate fibrous membrane dressings,incorporating poly(ionic liquid)as an antibacterial polymer and deferoxamine as an angiogenic agent.Results:The resulting fibrous membrane dressing contained poly(ionic liquid)and deferoxamin showcased a microporous structure,drug-releasing capabilities,and excellent air permeability.It not only demonstrated highly effective antibacterial properties but also exhibited remarkable angiogenesis,thereby promoting the healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds in both in vitro and in vivo assays.Conclusion:These findings highlight the immense potential of this wound dressing material for future clinical applications.展开更多
Morphing botanical tissues and animal muscles are all fiber-mediated composites, in which fibers play a passive and active role, respectively. Herein, inspired by the mechanism of fibers functioning in morphing botani...Morphing botanical tissues and animal muscles are all fiber-mediated composites, in which fibers play a passive and active role, respectively. Herein, inspired by the mechanism of fibers functioning in morphing botanical tissues and animal muscles, we propose two sorts of fiber-dominated composite actuators. First, inspired by the deformation of awned seeds in response to humidity change, we fabricate passive fiber-dominated actuators using non-active aligned carbon fibers via 4D printing method. The effects of process parameters, structural parameters, and fiber angles on the deformation of the printed actuators are examined. The experimental results show that the orientation degree is enhanced, resulting in a better swelling effect as the printing speed increases. Then, motivated by the actuation mechanism of skeletal muscle, we prepare active fiber-dominated actuators using active polyurethane fibers via 4D printing and pre-stretching method. The effect of fiber angle and loading on the actuation mode is experimentally analyzed. The experimental results show that the rotation angle of the actuator gradually decreases with the angle from 45° to 60°. When the fiber angle is 0° and 90°, the driver basically stops rotating while shrinking along the loading direction. Based on the above actuation mechanisms, identical contraction behaviors are realized both in passive and active fiber-dominated soft actuators. This work provides a validation method for biologically actuation mechanisms via 4D printing technique and smart materials and adds further insights to the design of bioinspired soft actuators.展开更多
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants No.52105295 and 52305008)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(Grants No.BK20210082 and BK20210440)+2 种基金Changzhou Science and Technology Project(Grants No.CJ20230040 and CJ20230038)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Grant No.2022T150259Department of Science and Technology of Jilin Province Grant No.20230402063GH.
文摘Traditional robotic grippers encounter significant challenges when handling small objects in confined spaces,underscoring the need for innovative instruments with enhanced space efficiency and adaptability.Erodium cicutarium awns have evolved hygroresponsive helical deformation,efficiently driving seeds into soil crevices with limited space utilization.Drawing inspiration from this natural mechanism,we developed a biomimetic thin-walled actuator with water-responsive helical capabilities.It features a composite material structure comprising common engineering materials with low toxicity.Leveraging fused deposition modeling 3D printing technology and the composite impregnation process,the actuator’s manufacturing process is streamlined and cost-effective,suitable for real-world applications.Then,a mathematical model is built to delineate the relationship between the biomimetic actuator’s key structural parameters and deformation characteristics.The experimental results emphasize the actuator’s compact dimension(0.26 mm thickness)and its capability to form a helical tube under 5 mm diameter within 60 s,demonstrating outstanding space efficiency.Moreover,helical characteristics and stiffness of the biomimetic actuators are configurable through precise modifications to the composite material structure.Consequently,it is capable of effectively grasping an object smaller than 3 mm.The innovative mechanism and design principles hold promise for advancing robotic technology,particularly in fields requiring high space efficiency and adaptability,such as fine tubing decongestion,underwater sampling,and medical endoscopic surgery.
基金support from National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No 52105295)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(Grant No BK20210082)+3 种基金Natural Science of Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China(Grant No 21KJB460003)Basic Research Project of Changzhou Medical Center of Nanjing Medical University(CMCB202314),Qinghai Province Health System Guidance Plan Project(2022-wjzdx-106 and 2023-wjzdx-104)Top Talent of Changzhou“The 14th Five-Year Plan”High-Level Health Talents Training Project(2022CZBJ059 and 2022CZBJ061)Nursing research project of the Second People's Hospital of Changzhou(2022HZD002).
文摘Background:Skin,being a vital organ that regulates physiological responses in the human body,is prone to injury from external environmental factors.Healing full-thickness skin defects becomes especially challenging when infections and vascular injuries are involved.Traditional wound dressings with single functions,such as antibacterial or angiogenic properties,fall short in achieving rapid wound healing.To address this,there is a need to develop wound dressing materials that possess both effective antibacterial and angiogenic properties.Methods:In this study,we utilized electrospinning technology to fabricate hyaluronic acid-cellulose acetate fibrous membrane dressings,incorporating poly(ionic liquid)as an antibacterial polymer and deferoxamine as an angiogenic agent.Results:The resulting fibrous membrane dressing contained poly(ionic liquid)and deferoxamin showcased a microporous structure,drug-releasing capabilities,and excellent air permeability.It not only demonstrated highly effective antibacterial properties but also exhibited remarkable angiogenesis,thereby promoting the healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds in both in vitro and in vivo assays.Conclusion:These findings highlight the immense potential of this wound dressing material for future clinical applications.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 52005209,Grant 91948302,Grant 52021003,Grant No 52105295in part by the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province under Grant 20210101053JCThis work also supported in part by the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52021003).
文摘Morphing botanical tissues and animal muscles are all fiber-mediated composites, in which fibers play a passive and active role, respectively. Herein, inspired by the mechanism of fibers functioning in morphing botanical tissues and animal muscles, we propose two sorts of fiber-dominated composite actuators. First, inspired by the deformation of awned seeds in response to humidity change, we fabricate passive fiber-dominated actuators using non-active aligned carbon fibers via 4D printing method. The effects of process parameters, structural parameters, and fiber angles on the deformation of the printed actuators are examined. The experimental results show that the orientation degree is enhanced, resulting in a better swelling effect as the printing speed increases. Then, motivated by the actuation mechanism of skeletal muscle, we prepare active fiber-dominated actuators using active polyurethane fibers via 4D printing and pre-stretching method. The effect of fiber angle and loading on the actuation mode is experimentally analyzed. The experimental results show that the rotation angle of the actuator gradually decreases with the angle from 45° to 60°. When the fiber angle is 0° and 90°, the driver basically stops rotating while shrinking along the loading direction. Based on the above actuation mechanisms, identical contraction behaviors are realized both in passive and active fiber-dominated soft actuators. This work provides a validation method for biologically actuation mechanisms via 4D printing technique and smart materials and adds further insights to the design of bioinspired soft actuators.
