Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41285766›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Synthetic fascia for stiff and tough 4D printed multifunctional structures that detect and tolerate damage.

Javier M Morales Ferrer, Chloe Kekedjian, Nicole Bacca, J William Boley

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Javier M Morales FerrerBoston University Department of Mechanical Engineering, 110 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, USA.
Chloe KekedjianBoston University Division of Materials Science and Engineering, 15 St Mary's St, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3919-2284
Nicole BaccaBoston University Department of Mechanical Engineering, 110 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, USA.
J William BoleyBoston University Department of Mechanical Engineering, 110 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, USA. jwboley@bu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0020-0988

Funding

National Science Foundation (NSF) 2234657National Science Foundation (NSF) CMMI-2047683United States Department of Defense | United States Air Force | AFMC | Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AF Office of Scientific Research) FA9550-20-1-0365U.S. Department of Defense (United States Department of Defense) NDSEGU.S. Department of Education (ED) GAANN
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Creating shape-morphing structures with time-responsive materials is a key goal of 4D printing, but combining high stiffness (E) and toughness (K) in a single material remains difficult. Soft materials stretch but lack strength, while stiff materials resist deformation but are brittle. Nature overcomes this trade-off in skeletal muscle by surrounding strong fibers with soft, tough tissue for protection and support. Inspired by this strategy, we develop a multi-material printing method that combines stiff synthetic muscle with a soft, stretchable adhesive to form a composite structure. Here, we show that this design greatly improves toughness without sacrificing stiffness, enables controlled actuation, and maintains function after multiple fractures. We demonstrate these properties in a damage-tolerant actuator, a lifting robot with record performance, and a lattice that detects and withstands extreme loads while remaining operational.

Identifiers

PMID41285766
PMCPMC12644615

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.