Exploration of molecular machines in supramolecular soft robotic systems

Anson Kwok-Hei Chau; Franco King-Chi Leung

doi:10.1016/j.cis.2023.102892

Exploration of molecular machines in supramolecular soft robotic systems

Adv Colloid Interface Sci. 2023 May:315:102892. doi: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.102892. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Authors

Anson Kwok-Hei Chau¹, Franco King-Chi Leung²

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China. Electronic address: kingchifranco.leung@polyu.edu.hk.

PMID: 37084547
DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.102892

Abstract

Soft robotic system, a new era of material science, is rapidly developing with advanced processing technology in soft matters, featured with biomimetic nature. An important bottom-up approach is through the implementation of molecular machines into polymeric materials, however, the synchronized molecular motions, acumination of strain across multiple length-scales, and amplification into macroscopic actuations remained highly challenging. This review presents the significances, key design strategies, and outlook of the hierarchical supramolecular systems of molecular machines to develop novel types of supramolecular-based soft robotic systems.

Keywords: Artificial muscle; Molecular machine; Photo-responsive materials; Soft robotic systems; Supramolecular self-assemblies.

Publication types

Review