Imparting anisotropic performance to soft materials via amagnetically-driven
programmable templating-deposition strategy
Abstract:Creating biomimetic aligned structures insoft materials with fast stimuli-responsive ability and tunable per-formance isof great interest to intelligent material science. However, there is still atechnical challenge to balance the relative velocities of polymeric gelationand nano-alignment/accumulation processes in a control-lable manner. Herein, amagnetically-driven programmable templating-deposition strategy coupled with anoscillating electrical signal has been developed to impart tunable anisotropicperformance to the soft hydrogels. Specifically, the programmableelectrophoretic deposition was initiated from a typical self-aggregatedchitosan/ Fe3O4 nanoclusters in the presence of an external magnetic field, inwhich case allows magnetically-driven fast templating of chitosan chains to theelectrode surface, oriented/enriched nanoclusters into a compact “fiber-like” alignedstructure, and then locked by the electric-field induced localizedneutralization processes. An oscillating electrical signal has been used forthe first time to manipulate the fiber thickness by varying the ON-OFFelec-trical signal sequences (e.g., each interruption providesextratimes/chances for nano-assembly), resulting in a higher concentration ofmagnetic particles and tunable aligned structure to the hydrogels with improvedmulti- functionalities (e.g., mechanical strength, conductivity, magneticresponsiveness, and photothermal activity). The proof-of-concept for potentialapplications in the controlled drug delivery system and smart magnetic catheterhave also been demonstrated. Consequently, this versatile magnetically-drivenprogrammable templating-deposition approach expands the range ofstimuli-responsive materials beyond magnetic hydrogels, inspiring the creationof advanced functional soft materials and devices for wide-broadapplications.
Kun Yan, Kaiyang Zhou, Xiaoming Guo,Chenguang Yang, Dong Wang,Imparting anisotropic performance to soft materialsvia a magnetically-driven programmable templating-deposition strategy, Surface and Coatings Technology, 2024, 477, 130347
