Photothermal Actuation of PNIPAm-Based Hydrogel Bilayer Films Through In Situ Oxidative Polymerization of Polydopamine Nanoparticles
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A soft actuator can be controlled by physicochemical stimuli such as temperature, humidity, pH, and light. Among others, light-triggered actuation enables the local control of actuator unlike other stimuli. In this study, we fabricated the hydrogel bilayer actuator consisting of a passive Agarose/Alginate double-network hydrogel layer, and an active temperature-responsive poly(N-isopropylacryamide) (PNIPAm) layer. Afterwards, polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) was incorporated into the bilayer via in situ oxidative polymerization. Because PDA NPs exhibit photothermal effect, locally induced heat by light causes the shrinkage of the PNIPAm layer, resulting in the shape-changing of the actuator. We showed the actuator can be used as a gripper. By controlling the number of polymerization cycles, the photothermal efficiency of the actuator can changes. We demonstrated tunable photothermal actuation using pinwheel-shaped actuator with four panels with different photothermal efficiencies.