| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Advances in Biomaterials for Bioink Formulation and 3D Printing of Scaffolds
|
| Presentation Title |
Rapid 3D printing of electro-active hydrogels |
| Author(s) |
Wenbo Wang, Xiangfan Chen |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Wenbo Wang |
| Abstract Scope |
Electroactive hydrogels (EAH) are gaining attention for their ability to change shape under electric fields, making them ideal for biosensors and soft actuators. This study focuses on a tunable EAH for high-resolution 3D printing via the micro continuous liquid interface production (µCLIP) process. The resin is formulated with acrylic acid (AA) and 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate (4-HBA). AA's carboxyl groups enable electro-actuation by generating osmotic pressure, causing swelling and bending towards the cathode. 4-HBA tunes the mechanical strength, providing an elastic backbone. Our findings show the hydrogel's strength, flexibility, and bending across different compositions and electric field strengths. The µCLIP process successfully 3D-printed intricate structures capable of delicately handling soft objects. We also demonstrated these hydrogels' potential in underwater robotics. The combination of AA’s electro-responsiveness with 4-HBA’s durability offers extensive practical applications, marking significant progress in soft robotics, wearable electronics, and biomedical devices. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Polymers, Electronic Materials |