Biomimetic Materials and Machines Article 2020

Resilient yet entirely degradable gelatin-based biogels for soft robots and electronics

Biodegradable and biocompatible elastic materials for soft robotics, tissue engineering or stretchable electronics with good mechanical properties, tunability, modifiability or healing properties drive technological advance, and yet they are not durable under ambient conditions and do not combine all the attributes in a single platform. We have developed a versatile gelatin-based biogel, which is highly resilient with outstanding elastic characteristics, yet degrades fully when disposed. It self-adheres, is rapidly healable and derived entirely from natural and food-safe constituents. We merge all the favourable attributes in one material that is easy to reproduce and scalable, and has a low-cost production under ambient conditions. This biogel is a step towards durable, life-like soft robotic and electronic systems that are sustainable and closely mimic their natural antetypes.

Author(s): Baumgartner, Melanie and Hartmann, Florian and Drack, Michael and Preninger, David and Wirthl, Daniela and Gerstmayr, Robert and Lehner, Lukas and Mao, Guoyong and Pruckner, Roland and Demchyshyn, Stepan and Reiter, Lisa and Strobel, Moritz and Stockinger, Thomas and Schiller, David and Kimeswenger, Susanne and Greibich, Florian and Buchberger, Gerda and Bradt, Elke and Hild, Sabine and Bauer, Siegfried and Kaltenbrunner, Martin
Journal: Nature Materials
Volume: 19 (10)
Pages: 1102-1109
Year: 2020
Month: June
Day: 15
Bibtex Type: Article (article)
DOI: 10.1038/s41563-020-0699-3
State: Published
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-020-0699-3#citeas

BibTex

@article{BioGels20,
  title = {Resilient yet entirely degradable gelatin-based biogels for soft robots and electronics},
  journal = {Nature Materials},
  abstract = {Biodegradable and biocompatible elastic materials for soft robotics, tissue engineering or stretchable electronics with good mechanical properties, tunability, modifiability or healing properties drive technological advance, and yet they are not durable under ambient conditions and do not combine all the attributes in a single platform. We have developed a versatile gelatin-based biogel, which is highly resilient with outstanding elastic characteristics, yet degrades fully when disposed. It self-adheres, is rapidly healable and derived entirely from natural and food-safe constituents. We merge all the favourable attributes in one material that is easy to reproduce and scalable, and has a low-cost production under ambient conditions. This biogel is a step towards durable, life-like soft robotic and electronic systems that are sustainable and closely mimic their natural antetypes.},
  volume = {19 (10)},
  pages = {1102-1109},
  month = jun,
  year = {2020},
  slug = {biogels20},
  author = {Baumgartner, Melanie and Hartmann, Florian and Drack, Michael and Preninger, David and Wirthl, Daniela and Gerstmayr, Robert and Lehner, Lukas and Mao, Guoyong and Pruckner, Roland and Demchyshyn, Stepan and Reiter, Lisa and Strobel, Moritz and Stockinger, Thomas and Schiller, David and Kimeswenger, Susanne and Greibich, Florian and Buchberger, Gerda and Bradt, Elke and Hild, Sabine and Bauer, Siegfried and Kaltenbrunner, Martin},
  url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-020-0699-3#citeas},
  month_numeric = {6}
}