MORE | Spring 2022

3D-Printed Electroactive Hydrogel-Based Microgripper for Biomedical Applications

Hydrogels are 3D interconnected systems of polymer chains that can soak and store liquid, this characteristic makes them supple and soft. Electroactive hydrogel-based microgrippers respond to stimuli and demonstrate the potential to be used in biomedical usage due to their biocompatibility, flexibility, and compact size. Their design and motion in an aqueous environment are studied in this research. The microgripper is placed in a controlled setting to observe its bending rate when it receives electrical stimuli. Based on experimental results, these systems demonstrate continuous bending when they are met with an electric signal and can return to their original shape.