Damping chitin hydrogels by harnessing insect-cuticle-inspired hierarchical structures
Cell Reports Physical Science 2023
Figure from Yuan et al., Cell Reports Physical Science (2023), DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101644. Source: the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.Abstract
Inspired by the layered structure of insect cuticles, this study develops chitin hydrogels using binary-solvent-induced self-assembly. Controlling the assembly process produces hierarchical laminar structures that dissipate impact energy while retaining flexibility and a high water content. The hydrogels show a more than 100-fold improvement in damping, alongside toughness, fatigue resistance, biodegradability, and processability. Their ability to absorb impacts and protect fast-moving soft objects points to applications in protective materials, medical devices, and soft robotics.
Citation: Cell Reports Physical Science 4(11), 101644 (2023).
Author notes: Fenghou Yuan and Xin-Xing Zhang contributed equally. Xiangyu Liang, Qing Yang, and Tian Liu are corresponding authors.
Yiliang Lin
Assistant Professor in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
My research interests include soft matter engineering, wearable electronics, biointerfaces and living materials.