The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 12, 2016
Filed:
Nov. 04, 2013
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., Boston, MA (US);
Mingming Ma, Boston, MA (US);
Liang Guo, Columbus, OH (US);
Daniel G. Anderson, Sudbury, MA (US);
Omid C. Farokhzad, Waban, MA (US);
Robert S. Langer, Newton, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., Boston, MA (US);
Abstract
Water-responsive composite materials are provided containing a polymeric matrix and a water-responsive gel integrated into the polymeric matrix. The water-responsive gel can include a polyol or an alkoxylated polyol crosslinked by reversibly hydrolysable bonds, such as borate ester bonds. The polymeric matrix can include conjugated polymers such as poly(pyrrole) containing polymers. The composite material is capable of rapid actuation in the presence of a water gradient and can exhibit power densities greater than 1 W/kg. Methods of making water-responsive composite materials are provided, including by electropolymerization. Devices containing water-responsive composite materials are provided for sensing, locomotion, and power generation.