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High Electromechanical Response of Ionic Polymer Actuators with Controlled-Morphology Aligned Carbon Nanotube/Nafion Nanocomposite Electrodes.

ABSTRACT: Recent advances in fabricating controlled-morphology vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VA-CNTs) with ultrahigh volume fraction create unique opportunities for markedly improving the electromechanical performance of ionic polymer conductor network composite (IPCNC) actuators. Continuous paths through inter-VA-CNT channels allow fast ion transport, and high electrical conduction of the aligned CNTs in the composite electrodes lead to fast device actuation speed (>10% strain/second). One critical issue in developing advanced actuator materials is how to suppress the strain that does not contribute to the actuation (unwanted strain) thereby reducing actuation efficiency. Here our experiments demonstrate that the VA-CNTs give an anisotropic elastic response in the composite electrodes, which suppresses the unwanted strain and markedly enhances the actuation strain (>8% strain under 4 volts). The results reported here suggest pathways for optimizing the electrode morphology in IPCNCs using ultra-high volume fraction VA-CNTs to further enhanced performance.

SUBMITTER: Liu S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3134233 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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High Electromechanical Response of Ionic Polymer Actuators with Controlled-Morphology Aligned Carbon Nanotube/Nafion Nanocomposite Electrodes.

Liu Sheng S Liu Yang Y Cebeci Hülya H de Villoria Roberto Guzmán RG Lin Jun-Hong JH Wardle Brian L BL Zhang Q M QM

Advanced functional materials 20101001 19

Recent advances in fabricating controlled-morphology vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VA-CNTs) with ultrahigh volume fraction create unique opportunities for markedly improving the electromechanical performance of ionic polymer conductor network composite (IPCNC) actuators. Continuous paths through inter-VA-CNT channels allow fast ion transport, and high electrical conduction of the aligned CNTs in the composite electrodes lead to fast device actuation speed (>10% strain/second). One critica ...[more]

PMID: 21765822

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Project description:Peripheral nerve injury accounts for roughly 2.8% of all trauma patients with an annual cost of 7 billion USD in the U.S. alone. Current treatment options rely on surgical intervention with the use of an autograft, despite associated shortcomings. Engineered nerve guidance conduits, stem cell therapies, and transient electrical stimulation have reported to increase speeds of functional recovery. As an alternative to the conduction effects of electrical stimulation, we have designed and optimized a nerve guidance conduit with aligned microchannels for the sustained release of a small molecule drug that promotes nerve impulse conduction. A biodegradable chitosan structure reinforced with drug-loaded halloysite nanotubes (HNT) was formed into a foam-like conduit with interconnected, longitudinally-aligned pores with an average pore size of 59.3?±?14.2??m. The aligned composite with HNTs produced anisotropic mechanical behavior with a Young's modulus of 0.33?±?0.1?MPa, very similar to that of native peripheral nerve. This manuscript reports on the sustained delivery of 4-Aminopyridine (4AP, molecular weight 94.1146?g/mol), a potassium-channel blocker as a growth factor alternative to enhance the rate of nerve regeneration. The conduit formulation released a total of 30?±?2% of the encapsulated 4AP in the first 7?days. Human Schwann cells showed elevated expression of key proteins such as nerve growth factor, myelin protein zero, and brain derived neurotrophic factor in a 4AP dose dependent manner. Preliminary in vivo studies in a critical-sized sciatic nerve defect in Wistar rats confirmed conduit suturability and strength to withstand ambulatory forces over 4?weeks of their implantation. Histological evaluations suggest conduit biocompatibility and Schwann cell infiltration and organization within the conduit and lumen. These nerve guidance conduits and 4AP sustained delivery may serve as an attractive strategy for nerve repair and regeneration.

Dataset Information

High Electromechanical Response of Ionic Polymer Actuators with Controlled-Morphology Aligned Carbon Nanotube/Nafion Nanocomposite Electrodes.

Publications

High Electromechanical Response of Ionic Polymer Actuators with Controlled-Morphology Aligned Carbon Nanotube/Nafion Nanocomposite Electrodes.

Similar Datasets

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