"Controlling Hydrogel Locomotion with Light and Electric Fields"

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a photo- and electro-activated hydrogel that can capture and deliver cargo while avoiding obstacles under constant external stimuli of light and electricity. The hydrogel, made with spiropyran monomers, exhibits charge reversal behavior and can autonomously navigate towards the cathode and return to the anode. The team also demonstrated the hydrogel's ability to capture and deliver cargo using dielectrophoretic forces. This research paves the way for the development of intelligent materials at the molecular scale for applications in soft robotics and biomedical devices.