Artificial muscles powered by glucoseArtificial muscles made from polymers can now be powered by ene
Artificial muscles powered by glucoseArtificial muscles made from polymers can now be powered by energy from glucose and oxygen, just like biological muscles. This advance may be a step on the way to implantable artificial muscles or autonomous microrobots powered by biomolecules in their surroundings. Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, have presented their results in the journal Advanced Materials.The motion of our muscles is powered by energy that is released when glucose and oxygen take part in biochemical reactions. In a similar way, manufactured actuators can convert energy to motion, but the energy in this case comes from other sources, such as electricity. Scientists at Linköping University, Sweden, wanted to develop artificial musclesthat act more like biological muscles. They have now demonstrated the principle using artificial muscles powered by the same glucose and oxygen as our bodies use.The researchers have used an electroactive polymer, polypyrrole, which changes volume when an electrical current is passed. The artificial muscle, known as a “polymer actuator,” consists of three layers: a thin membrane layer between two layers of electroactive polymer. This design has been used in the field for many years. It works when the material on one side of the membrane acquires a positive electrical charge and ions are expelled, causing it to shrink. At the same time, the material on the other side acquires a negative electrical charge and ions are inserted, which causes the material to expand. The changes in volume cause the actuator to bend in one direction, in the same way that a muscle contracts.Read more. -- source link
#materials science#science#tissue engineering#biomaterials#polymers#glucose#enzymes