Muscle-like fatigue-resistant hydrogels by mechanical training

), high strength (1 MPa), low Young's modulus (100 kPa), and high water content (70 to 80 wt %), which have not been achieved in synthetic hydrogels. The muscle-like properties are highly desirable for hydrogels' nascent applications in load-bearing artificial tissues and soft devices. Here, we propose a strategy of mechanical training to achieve the aligned nanofibrillar architectures of skeletal muscles in synthetic hydrogels, resulting in the combinational muscle-like properties. These properties are obtained through the training-induced alignment of nanofibrils, without additional chemical modifications or additives. In situ confocal microscopy of the hydrogels' fracturing processes reveals that the…

• CF
  Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing, National Science Foundation

  Award: CMMI-1661627
• OO
  Office of Naval Research

  Award: N00014-17-1-2920
• AR
  Army Research Office

  Award: W911NF-13-D-0001