Micro 3D Printing of a Temperature-Responsive Hydrogel Using Projection Micro-Stereolithography

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2018

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels exhibiting physical or chemical changes in response to environmental conditions have attracted growing attention for the past few decades. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), a temperature responsive hydrogel, has been extensively studied in various fields of science and engineering. However, manufacturing of PNIPAAm has been heavily relying on conventional methods such as molding and lithography techniques that are inherently limited to a two-dimensional (2D) space. Here we report the three-dimensional (3D) printing of PNIPAAm using a high-resolution digital additive manufacturing technique, projection micro-stereolithography (PμSL). Control of the temperature dependent deformation of 3D printed PNIPAAm is achieved by controlling manufacturing process parameters as well as polymer resin composition. Also demonstrated is a sequential deformation of a 3D printed PNIPAAm structure by selective incorporation of ionic monomer that shifts the swelling transition temperature of PNIPAAm. This fast, high resolution, and scalable 3D printing method for stimuli-responsive hydrogels may enable many new applications in diverse areas, including flexible sensors and actuators, bio-medical devices, and tissue engineering.

Identifier

85041686947 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Scientific Reports

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-20385-2

e-ISSN

20452322

PubMed ID

29386555

Issue

1

Volume

8

Grant

1463121

Fund Ref

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

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