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HYDROGELS

Precise patterning driven by droplets

Hydrogels that can respond to multiple external stimuli are typically prepared as a single or interpenetrated polymer network material. Now, water-in-oil droplet networks have been used to precisely pattern different stimuli-responsive materials into well-ordered, continuous hydrogel structures.

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Fig. 1: Construction of complex, multi-responsive two- and three-dimensional hydrogels through the precise patterning of droplet networks.

adapted with permission from ref. 5, Springer Nature Ltd.

Fig. 2: A dual thermally and magnetically responsive asymmetric hydrogel actuator.

adapted with permission from ref. 5, Springer Nature Ltd.

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Correspondence to Jonathan C. Barnes.

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Delawder, A.O., Barnes, J.C. Precise patterning driven by droplets. Nat. Chem. 12, 328–330 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-020-0449-9

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