ReviewMaterials horizons2026
3D printable tough hydrogel actuators.
Review in Materials horizons, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
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.
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0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Nature autonomously actuates many of its structures in response to changes in environmental conditions. Inspired by nature, stimuli-responsive hydrogel-based actuators that wirelessly operate without external energy sources have been developed. By exploiting the tunable swelling behavior of hydrogels, these systems can actuate in the form of bending, twisting, folding, and even locomotion. However, for these materials to function effectively across a broad range of applications, their mechanical properties - especially their stiffness and toughness - must be improved to increase their actuation force and operational reliability. Addressing these mechanical performance challenges in hydrogel-based actuators would bring them closer to replicating the remarkable combination of mechanical toughness, resilience, and actuation observed in nature. This review outlines established toughening strategies for hydrogels and highlights advances in their additive manufacturing into actuators with well-defined structures and locally varying compositions. It concludes with a brief outlook on potential opportunities that arise if self-healing or improved fatigue resistance are incorporated into actuating systems.
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Registered trials
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