Through‐Thickness Electric Field Establishes Complex Molecular Architectures for Localized Liquid Secretion
Abstract Localized liquid secretion, being an important process in nature such as the secretion of tears or mucus, has been an attractive point in developing biomimetic materials. However, precise localization remains challenging due to the cohesive and mobile nature of liquids. In this paper, light...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Advanced Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202413212 |
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| author | Dongyu Zhang Julia Nuijten Jacques Peixoto Danqing Liu |
| author_facet | Dongyu Zhang Julia Nuijten Jacques Peixoto Danqing Liu |
| author_sort | Dongyu Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Localized liquid secretion, being an important process in nature such as the secretion of tears or mucus, has been an attractive point in developing biomimetic materials. However, precise localization remains challenging due to the cohesive and mobile nature of liquids. In this paper, light‐induced localized liquid secretion is demonstrated on the scale of tens of micrometers by a liquid crystal polymer coating with an alternating homeotropic‐planar alignment. The light responsiveness is achieved by the incorporation of azobenzene derivative. The localization is achieved by applying regional through‐thickness electric fields to the monomeric liquid crystals before polymerization. The polymerized coating preserves both homeotropic and planar alignment. Upon actuation, the liquid can be locally secreted from the homeotropic region while suppressed in the planar area. This method allows precise control over various secretion patterns based on different pre‐designed electrodes, which paves the way for the development of responsive devices in a multitude of fields, such as targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, and microfluidic devices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e00f82f382ce4820a8a581cf6f080654 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2198-3844 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advanced Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-e00f82f382ce4820a8a581cf6f0806542025-08-20T02:10:46ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-03-011212n/an/a10.1002/advs.202413212Through‐Thickness Electric Field Establishes Complex Molecular Architectures for Localized Liquid SecretionDongyu Zhang0Julia Nuijten1Jacques Peixoto2Danqing Liu3Laboratory of Human Interactive Materials (HIM) Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Eindhoven University of Technology Groene Loper 3 Eindhoven 5612 AE The NetherlandsLaboratory of Human Interactive Materials (HIM) Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Eindhoven University of Technology Groene Loper 3 Eindhoven 5612 AE The NetherlandsLaboratory of Human Interactive Materials (HIM) Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Eindhoven University of Technology Groene Loper 3 Eindhoven 5612 AE The NetherlandsLaboratory of Human Interactive Materials (HIM) Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Eindhoven University of Technology Groene Loper 3 Eindhoven 5612 AE The NetherlandsAbstract Localized liquid secretion, being an important process in nature such as the secretion of tears or mucus, has been an attractive point in developing biomimetic materials. However, precise localization remains challenging due to the cohesive and mobile nature of liquids. In this paper, light‐induced localized liquid secretion is demonstrated on the scale of tens of micrometers by a liquid crystal polymer coating with an alternating homeotropic‐planar alignment. The light responsiveness is achieved by the incorporation of azobenzene derivative. The localization is achieved by applying regional through‐thickness electric fields to the monomeric liquid crystals before polymerization. The polymerized coating preserves both homeotropic and planar alignment. Upon actuation, the liquid can be locally secreted from the homeotropic region while suppressed in the planar area. This method allows precise control over various secretion patterns based on different pre‐designed electrodes, which paves the way for the development of responsive devices in a multitude of fields, such as targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, and microfluidic devices.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202413212bio‐mimeticsliquid crystal networkslocalized liquid secretionresponsive polymer materials |
| spellingShingle | Dongyu Zhang Julia Nuijten Jacques Peixoto Danqing Liu Through‐Thickness Electric Field Establishes Complex Molecular Architectures for Localized Liquid Secretion Advanced Science bio‐mimetics liquid crystal networks localized liquid secretion responsive polymer materials |
| title | Through‐Thickness Electric Field Establishes Complex Molecular Architectures for Localized Liquid Secretion |
| title_full | Through‐Thickness Electric Field Establishes Complex Molecular Architectures for Localized Liquid Secretion |
| title_fullStr | Through‐Thickness Electric Field Establishes Complex Molecular Architectures for Localized Liquid Secretion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Through‐Thickness Electric Field Establishes Complex Molecular Architectures for Localized Liquid Secretion |
| title_short | Through‐Thickness Electric Field Establishes Complex Molecular Architectures for Localized Liquid Secretion |
| title_sort | through thickness electric field establishes complex molecular architectures for localized liquid secretion |
| topic | bio‐mimetics liquid crystal networks localized liquid secretion responsive polymer materials |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202413212 |
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