Magneto‐/ electro‐responsive polymers toward manufacturing, characterization, and biomedical/ soft robotic applications
Ebrahim Yarali (University of Tehran)
Mahdi Baniasadi (University of Tehran)
Ali Zolfagharian (Deakin University)
Maede Chavoshi (University of Tehran)
Fatemeh Arefi (University of Tehran)
Mokarram Hossain (Swansea University)
Anil Bastola (University of Nottingham)
Mahdi Ansari (Arak University of Technology)
Alireza Foyouzat (University of Tehran)
Ali Dabbagh (University of Tehran)
Mohamad Ebrahimi (University of Calgary)
M. Mirzaali Mazandarani (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
Mahdi Bodaghi (Nottingham Trent University)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
Magneto-/ electro-responsive polymers (MERPs) are a class of stimuli-responsive materials that are actuated when triggered by external magnetic/ electric fields. MERPs exhibit rapid, reversible, and safe multi-functional and dynamic (i.e., changing with time) properties, which can effectively be manipulated at different length scales. These features make MERPs very attractive particularly in biomedical engineering (e.g., drug delivery systems and tissue engineering), soft matter engineering (e.g., soft robotics), and structural design of smart materials with unprecedented properties (e.g., complex shape morphing). Due to the recent progress in the design and development of MERPs, here, we highlighted the current advances in fabricating MERPs using various manufacturing methods including 3D/ 4D printing and conventional techniques. We also summarized the methods used for the characterization of MERPs and discussed their important structure-property relationship. We also highlighted the potential applications of MERPs in biomedical engineering, soft robotic, and the design of smart materials and systems. MERPs show great potentials for creating smart materials with predictable dynamic properties. More studies are necessary to investigate the biological responses of MERP both in-vivo and in-vitro, which is essential for biomedical engineering applications.