Biomaterial Database

Optimization of electroactive hydrogel actuators. 2010

Megan L O'Grady, and Po-ling Kuo, and Kevin Kit Parker

To improve actuation of hydrogels, we utilized an emulsion polymerization to engineer porous structures into polyelectrolyte hydrogels. Porous hydrogels generated large deformation as a result of enhanced deswelling mechanisms; for instance, the decreased number of COO(-) groups that must be protonated in porous hydrogels to initiate bending. Measurements of the mechanical properties revealed that porous hydrogels also bend to a larger extent because of their increased flexibility. Overall, our results demonstrate that the fast and large actuation of polyelectrolyte hydrogels can be accomplished by increasing the hydrogel porosity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008422	Materials Testing	The testing of materials and devices, especially those used for PROSTHESES AND IMPLANTS; SUTURES; TISSUE ADHESIVES; etc., for hardness, strength, durability, safety, efficacy, and biocompatibility.	Biocompatibility Testing,Biocompatible Materials Testing,Hemocompatibility Testing,Testing, Biocompatible Materials,Testing, Hemocompatible Materials,Hemocompatibility Testings,Hemocompatible Materials Testing,Materials Testing, Biocompatible,Materials Testing, Hemocompatible,Testing, Biocompatibility,Testing, Hemocompatibility,Testing, Materials,Testings, Biocompatibility
D004563	Electrochemistry	The study of chemical changes resulting from electrical action and electrical activity resulting from chemical changes.	Electrochemistries
D004574	Electromagnetic Fields	Fields representing the joint interplay of electric and magnetic forces.	Electromagnetic Field,Field, Electromagnetic,Fields, Electromagnetic
D014159	Transducers	Any device or element which converts an input signal into an output signal of a different form. Examples include the microphone, phonographic pickup, loudspeaker, barometer, photoelectric cell, automobile horn, doorbell, and underwater sound transducer. (McGraw Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Transducer
D055119	Elastic Modulus	Numerical expression indicating the measure of stiffness in a material. It is defined by the ratio of stress in a unit area of substance to the resulting deformation (strain). This allows the behavior of a material under load (such as bone) to be calculated.	Young Modulus,Modulus of Elasticity,Young's Modulus,Elasticity Modulus,Modulus, Elastic,Modulus, Young,Modulus, Young's,Youngs Modulus
D020100	Hydrogels	Water swollen, rigid, 3-dimensional network of cross-linked, hydrophilic macromolecules, 20-95% water. They are used in paints, printing inks, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Hydrogel,In Situ Hydrogel,In Situ Hydrogels,Patterned Hydrogel,Patterned Hydrogels,Hydrogel, In Situ,Hydrogel, Patterned