Hydrogel manipulated into 3D forms for use in soft robotics

The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest new applications in areas where hydrogel is commonly used, such as such as tissue engineering or compliant robots. The team from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has filed a patent on the development.

In nature, plant or animal tissues are formed as new biomass is added to existing structures. Their shape is the result of different parts of those tissues growing at different rates.

Mimicking this behaviour of biological tissues in nature, the research team comprising CMU scientists Changjin Huang, David Quinn, K. Jimmy Hsia and NTU President-designate Prof Subra Suresh, showed that through manipulation of oxygen concentration, it is possible to pattern and control the growth rate of hydrogels to create the desired complex 3D shapes.

The team found that higher oxygen concentrations slow down the cross-linking of chemicals in the hydrogel, inhibiting growth in that specific area.