Journal article
The Manufacture of Unbreakable Bionics via Multifunctional and Self-Healing Silk–Graphene Hydrogels
Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark1
Zanjan University of Medical Sciences2
Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark3
Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark4
Biomimetics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark5
Biologically Inspired Material Engineering, Biomimetics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark6
Technical University of Denmark7
Technical University of Denmark8
Polymer Cell, Biomimetics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark9
Colloids & Biological Interfaces, Biotherapeutic Engineering and Drug Targeting, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark10
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark11
Biotherapeutic Engineering and Drug Targeting, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark12
...and 2 moreBiomaterials capable of transmitting signals over longer distances than those in rigid electronics can open new opportunities for humanity by mimicking the way tissues propagate information. For seamless mirroring of the human body, they also have to display conformability to its curvilinear architecture, as well as, reproducing native-like mechanical and electrical properties combined with the ability to self-heal on demand like native organs and tissues.
Along these lines, a multifunctional composite is developed by mixing silk fibroin and reduced graphene oxide. The material is coined “CareGum” and capitalizes on a phenolic glue to facilitate sacrificial and hierarchical hydrogen bonds. The hierarchal bonding scheme gives rise to high mechanical toughness, record-breaking elongation capacity of ≈25 000%, excellent conformability to arbitrary and complex surfaces, 3D printability, a tenfold increase in electrical conductivity, and a fourfold increase in Young's modulus compared to its pristine counterpart.
By taking advantage of these unique properties, a durable and self-healing bionic glove is developed for hand gesture sensing and sign translation. Indeed, CareGum is a new advanced material with promising applications in fields like cyborganics, bionics, soft robotics, human–machine interfaces, 3D-printed electronics, and flexible bioelectronics.
Language: | English |
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Year: | 2021 |
Pages: | e2100047 |
ISSN: | 15214095 and 09359648 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1002/adma.202100047 |
ORCIDs: | Kadumudi, Firoz Babu , Hasany, Masoud , Taebnia, Nayere , Mehrali, Mehdi , Zsurzsan, Tiberiu-Gabriel , Knott, Arnold , Andresen, Thomas L. and Dolatshahi-Pirouz, Alireza |