Stimuli-responsive liquid crystal elastomers for dynamic cell culture

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditya Agrawal ◽  
Oluwatomiyin Adetiba ◽  
Hojin Kim ◽  
Huiying Chen ◽  
Jeffrey G. Jacot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Stimuli Responsive ◽  
Dynamic Cell ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomers ◽  
Image Position

Abstract

scholarly journals Effect of Crosslinkers on Optical and Mechanical Behavior of Chiral Nematic Liquid Crystal Elastomers

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (20) ◽  
pp. 6193
Author(s):  
Kyosun Ku ◽  
Kyohei Hisano ◽  
Kyoko Yuasa ◽  
Tomoki Shigeyama ◽  
Norihisa Akamatsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Polymer Network ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Stimuli Responsive ◽  
Breaking Strain ◽  
Responsive Materials ◽  
Sensor Applications ◽  
Color Changes ◽  
Chiral Nematic ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomers

Chiral nematic (N*) liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are suitable for fabricating stimuli-responsive materials. As crosslinkers considerably affect the N*LCE network, we investigated the effects of crosslinking units on the physical properties of N*LCEs. The N*LCEs were synthesized with different types of crosslinkers, and the relationship between the N*LC polymeric system and the crosslinking unit was investigated. The N*LCEs emit color by selective reflection, in which the color changes in response to mechanical deformation. The LC-type crosslinker decreases the helical twisting power of the N*LCE by increasing the total molar ratio of the mesogenic compound. The N*LCE exhibits mechano-responsive color changes by coupling the N*LC orientation and the polymer network, where the N*LCEs exhibit different degrees of pitch variation depending on the crosslinker. Moreover, the LC-type crosslinker increases the Young’s modulus of N*LCEs, and the long methylene chains increase the breaking strain. An analysis of experimental results verified the effect of the crosslinkers, providing a design rationale for N*LCE materials in mechano-optical sensor applications.

Artificial muscles based on liquid crystal elastomers

2006 ◽  
Vol 364 (1847) ◽  
pp. 2763-2777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Hui Li ◽  
Patrick Keller
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Main Chain ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Artificial Muscle ◽  
Isotropic Phase ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Stimuli Responsive ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomers ◽  
The Individual

This paper presents our results on liquid crystal (LC) elastomers as artificial muscle, based on the ideas proposed by de Gennes. In the theoretical model, the material consists of a repeated series of main-chain nematic LC polymer blocks, N, and conventional rubber blocks, R, based on the lamellar phase of a triblock copolymer RNR. The motor for the contraction is the reversible macromolecular shape change of the chain, from stretched to spherical, that occurs at the nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in the main-chain nematic LC polymers. We first developed a new kind of muscle-like material based on a network of side-on nematic LC homopolymers. Side-on LC polymers were used instead of main-chain LC polymers for synthetic reasons. The first example of these materials was thermo-responsive, with a typical contraction of around 35–45% and a generated force of around 210 kPa. Subsequently, a photo-responsive material was developed, with a fast photochemically induced contraction of around 20%, triggered by UV light. We then succeeded in preparing a thermo-responsive artificial muscle, RNR, with lamellar structure, using a side-on nematic LC polymer as N block. Micrometre-sized artificial muscles were also prepared. This paper illustrates the bottom-up design of stimuli-responsive materials, in which the overall material response reflects the individual macromolecular response, using LC polymer as building block.

High strain actuation liquid crystal elastomers via modulation of mesophase structure

Soft Matter ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (41) ◽  
pp. 7537-7547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohand O. Saed ◽  
Ross H. Volpe ◽  
Nicholas A. Traugutt ◽  
Rayshan Visvanathan ◽  
Noel A. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
High Strain ◽  
Stimuli Responsive ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomers

Control of the mesophase in liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) is a critical aspect in harnessing their unique stimuli-responsive properties.

scholarly journals Liquid Crystal Elastomers for Biological Applications

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 813
Author(s):  
Mariam Hussain ◽  
Ethan I. L. Jull ◽  
Richard J. Mandle ◽  
Thomas Raistrick ◽  
Peter J. Hine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Crystals ◽  
Stimuli Responsive ◽  
Absorption Properties ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Cell Scaffolds ◽  
Artificial Tissue ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomers ◽  
Potential Use

The term liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) describes a class of materials that combine the elastic entropy behaviour associated with conventional elastomers with the stimuli responsive properties of anisotropic liquid crystals. LCEs consequently exhibit attributes of both elastomers and liquid crystals, but additionally have unique properties not found in either. Recent developments in LCE synthesis, as well as the understanding of the behaviour of liquid crystal elastomers—namely their mechanical, optical and responsive properties—is of significant relevance to biology and biomedicine. LCEs are abundant in nature, highlighting the potential use of LCEs in biomimetics. Their exceptional tensile properties and biocompatibility have led to research exploring their applications in artificial tissue, biological sensors and cell scaffolds by exploiting their actuation and shock absorption properties. There has also been significant recent interest in using LCEs as a model for morphogenesis. This review provides an overview of some aspects of LCEs which are of relevance in different branches of biology and biomedicine, as well as discussing how recent LCE advances could impact future applications.

Mechano‐Optical Sensors Fabricated with Multilayered Liquid Crystal Elastomers Exhibiting Tunable Deformation Recovery

2021 ◽  
pp. 2104702
Author(s):  
Kyohei Hisano ◽  
Seiya Kimura ◽  
Kyosun Ku ◽  
Tomoki Shigeyama ◽  
Norihisa Akamatsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Optical Sensors ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomers ◽  
Deformation Recovery

Thermomechanically active electrodes power work-dense soft actuators

Soft Matter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Martinez ◽  
Arul Clement ◽  
Junfeng Gao ◽  
Julia Kocherzat ◽  
Mohsen Tabrizi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Metal ◽  
Chain Extender ◽  
Design Work ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomers ◽  
Soft Actuators ◽  
Dense Liquid

The effect of chain extender structure and composition on the properties of liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) is presented. Compositions are optimized to design work-dense liquid metal LCE composites that are operated with 100 mW power.

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