Photoresponsive hydrogel microcrawlers exploit friction hysteresis to crawl by reciprocal actuation

Journal article (2021)

Authors

Ivan Rehor Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Universiteit Utrecht, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague
Charlie Maslen Universiteit Utrecht, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague
Pepijn G. Moerman Universiteit Utrecht
Renee Van Alst Universiteit Utrecht
Jan Groenewold Universiteit Utrecht, South China Normal University
H.B. Eral Universiteit Utrecht, Complex Fluid Processing - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Willem K. Kegel Universiteit Utrecht
Research Group
Complex Fluid Processing (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Process and Energy

Research Group

Complex Fluid Processing

Abstract

Mimicking the locomotive abilities of living organisms on the microscale, where the downsizing of rigid parts and circuitry presents inherent problems, is a complex feat. In nature, many soft-bodied organisms (inchworm, leech) have evolved simple, yet efficient locomotion strategies in which reciprocal actuation cycles synchronize with spatiotemporal modulation of friction between their bodies and environment. We developed microscopic (∼100 μm) hydrogel crawlers that move in aqueous environment through spatiotemporal modulation of the friction between their bodies and the substrate. Thermo-responsive poly-n-isopropyl acrylamide hydrogels loaded with gold nanoparticles shrink locally and reversibly when heated photothermally with laser light. The out-of-equilibrium collapse and reswelling of the hydrogel is responsible for asymmetric changes in the friction between the actuating section of the crawler and the substrate. This friction hysteresis, together with off-centered irradiation, results in directional motion of the crawler. We developed a model that predicts the order of magnitude of the crawler motion (within 50%) and agrees with the observed experimental trends. Crawler trajectories can be controlled enabling applications of the crawler as micromanipulator that can push small cargo along a surface.