University of Texas System

Amirali Nojoomi

Kyungsuk Yum

Kyung Suk Yum

Hakan Arslan

In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure, in one aspect, relates to gel-phase inks suitable for extrusion-based 3D printing and methods of making the same, as well as anisotropic hydrogels printed from the same. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to linear contractile elements constructed from the anisotropic hydrogels and 3D structures with programmed morphologies and motions comprising the linear contractile elements. In still another aspect, the disclosure relates to a process for preparing soft materials and a method to create 3D structures starting from the gel-phase inks disclosed herein. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Compositions and methods for extrusion-based 3D printing of soft materials

The approach described herein uses the spatially and temporally controlled growth for programming 3D shapes and their motions, possibly with an unlimited number of degrees of freedom, could thus create dynamic 3D structures. The ability to program growth-induced 3D shapes and motions could transform the way engineering systems, such as robots, actuators, and artificial muscles, are designed. The concept is applicable to other programmable materials. The 2D printing approach for 3D material programming represents a scalable and customizable 3D manufacturing technology, which can potentially be integrated with biological systems and existing 2D fabrication methods and devices for broader applications.

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Arlington, TX, United States of America

Amirali Nojoomi