Concept of an artificial muscle design on polypyrrole nanofiber scaffolds.
Madis HarjoMartin JärvekülgTarmo TammToribio F OteroRudolf KieferPublished in: PloS one (2020)
Here we present the synthesis and characterization of two new conducting materials having a high electro-chemo-mechanical activity for possible applications as artificial muscles or soft smart actuators in biomimetic structures. Glucose-gelatin nanofiber scaffolds (CFS) were coated with polypyrrole (PPy) first by chemical polymerization followed by electrochemical polymerization doped with dodecylbenzensulfonate (DBS-) forming CFS-PPy/DBS films, or with trifluoromethanesulfonate (CF3SO3-, TF) giving CFS-PPy/TF films. The composition, electronic and ionic conductivity of the materials were determined using different techniques. The electro-chemo-mechanical characterization of the films was carried out by cyclic voltammetry and square wave potential steps in bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium solutions of propylene carbonate (LiTFSI-PC). Linear actuation of the CFS-PPy/DBS material exhibited 20% of strain variation with a stress of 0.14 MPa, rather similar to skeletal muscles. After 1000 cycles, the creeping effect was as low as 0,2% having a good long-term stability showing a strain variation per cycle of -1.8% (after 1000 cycles). Those material properties are excellent for future technological applications as artificial muscles, batteries, smart membranes, and so on.
Keyphrases
- tissue engineering
- deep brain stimulation
- room temperature
- ionic liquid
- molecularly imprinted
- solid state
- photodynamic therapy
- high speed
- cystic fibrosis
- cancer therapy
- carbon nanotubes
- quantum dots
- skeletal muscle
- locally advanced
- combination therapy
- reduced graphene oxide
- drug delivery
- type diabetes
- radiation therapy
- risk assessment
- metabolic syndrome
- climate change
- metal organic framework
- mass spectrometry
- solid phase extraction