3D-Printed Multi-Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Fabrication and Characterization
Stimulus-responsive hydrogels have broad applications in the biomedical, sensing, and actuation fields. However, conventional fabrication methods are often limited to 2D structures, hindering the creation of complex, personalized 3D hydrogel architectures. Furthermore, hydrogels responding to only a...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/7/788 |
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| author | Jinzhe Wu Zhiyuan Ma Qianqian Tang Runhuai Yang |
| author_facet | Jinzhe Wu Zhiyuan Ma Qianqian Tang Runhuai Yang |
| author_sort | Jinzhe Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stimulus-responsive hydrogels have broad applications in the biomedical, sensing, and actuation fields. However, conventional fabrication methods are often limited to 2D structures, hindering the creation of complex, personalized 3D hydrogel architectures. Furthermore, hydrogels responding to only a single stimulus and delays in fabrication techniques restrict their practical utility in biomedicine. In this study, we developed two novel multi-stimuli-responsive hydrogels (based on Gelatin/Sodium Alginate and Tannic Acid/EDTA-FeNa complexes) specifically designed for direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing. We systematically characterized the printed properties and optimized component ratio, revealing sufficient mechanical strength (e.g., tensile modulus: Gel/SA-TA ≥ 0.22854 ± 0.021 MPa and Gel/SA-TA@Fe<sup>3+</sup> ≥ 0.35881 ± 0.021 MPa), high water content (e.g., water absorption rate Gel/SA-TA ≥ 70.21% ± 1.5% and Gel/SA-TA@Fe<sup>3+</sup> ≥ 64.86% ± 1.28%), excellent biocompatibility (e.g., cell viability: Gel/SA-TA and Gel/SA-TA@Fe<sup>3+</sup> ≥ 90%) and good shape memory performance (e.g., the highest shape recovery rate of Gel/SA-TA reaches 74.85% ± 4.776%). Furthermore, we explored electrical characteristics, showing that the impedance value of Gel/SA-TA@Fe<sup>3+</sup> hydrogel changes significantly under finger bending and NIR irradiation. This investigation demonstrates the potential of these 3D-printed multi-stimuli hydrogels for applications such as wearable flexible strain sensors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a7241dc3baa24255ae160f0817ccf0e9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj-art-a7241dc3baa24255ae160f0817ccf0e92025-08-20T03:36:12ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2025-07-0116778810.3390/mi160707883D-Printed Multi-Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Fabrication and CharacterizationJinzhe Wu0Zhiyuan Ma1Qianqian Tang2Runhuai Yang3School of Electronic Engineering, Naval University of Engineering, Wuhan 430033, ChinaSchool of Electronic Engineering, Naval University of Engineering, Wuhan 430033, ChinaChaohu Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Chaohu 238000, ChinaChaohu Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Chaohu 238000, ChinaStimulus-responsive hydrogels have broad applications in the biomedical, sensing, and actuation fields. However, conventional fabrication methods are often limited to 2D structures, hindering the creation of complex, personalized 3D hydrogel architectures. Furthermore, hydrogels responding to only a single stimulus and delays in fabrication techniques restrict their practical utility in biomedicine. In this study, we developed two novel multi-stimuli-responsive hydrogels (based on Gelatin/Sodium Alginate and Tannic Acid/EDTA-FeNa complexes) specifically designed for direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing. We systematically characterized the printed properties and optimized component ratio, revealing sufficient mechanical strength (e.g., tensile modulus: Gel/SA-TA ≥ 0.22854 ± 0.021 MPa and Gel/SA-TA@Fe<sup>3+</sup> ≥ 0.35881 ± 0.021 MPa), high water content (e.g., water absorption rate Gel/SA-TA ≥ 70.21% ± 1.5% and Gel/SA-TA@Fe<sup>3+</sup> ≥ 64.86% ± 1.28%), excellent biocompatibility (e.g., cell viability: Gel/SA-TA and Gel/SA-TA@Fe<sup>3+</sup> ≥ 90%) and good shape memory performance (e.g., the highest shape recovery rate of Gel/SA-TA reaches 74.85% ± 4.776%). Furthermore, we explored electrical characteristics, showing that the impedance value of Gel/SA-TA@Fe<sup>3+</sup> hydrogel changes significantly under finger bending and NIR irradiation. This investigation demonstrates the potential of these 3D-printed multi-stimuli hydrogels for applications such as wearable flexible strain sensors.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/7/788stimulus-responsive hydrogelsdirect ink writingwearable flexible sensors |
| spellingShingle | Jinzhe Wu Zhiyuan Ma Qianqian Tang Runhuai Yang 3D-Printed Multi-Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Fabrication and Characterization Micromachines stimulus-responsive hydrogels direct ink writing wearable flexible sensors |
| title | 3D-Printed Multi-Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Fabrication and Characterization |
| title_full | 3D-Printed Multi-Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Fabrication and Characterization |
| title_fullStr | 3D-Printed Multi-Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Fabrication and Characterization |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D-Printed Multi-Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Fabrication and Characterization |
| title_short | 3D-Printed Multi-Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Fabrication and Characterization |
| title_sort | 3d printed multi stimulus responsive hydrogels fabrication and characterization |
| topic | stimulus-responsive hydrogels direct ink writing wearable flexible sensors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/7/788 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jinzhewu 3dprintedmultistimulusresponsivehydrogelsfabricationandcharacterization AT zhiyuanma 3dprintedmultistimulusresponsivehydrogelsfabricationandcharacterization AT qianqiantang 3dprintedmultistimulusresponsivehydrogelsfabricationandcharacterization AT runhuaiyang 3dprintedmultistimulusresponsivehydrogelsfabricationandcharacterization |