抄録
This paper describes a fabrication method of a stimuli-responsive hydrogel microfiber. By injecting a mixed solution of a temperature responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (p(NIPAM-co-AAc) and sodium alginate (NaAlg aq) into calcium chloride solution, a single-layered microfiber that can respond to temperature was fabricated. The microfiber shrunk at high temperature (50℃), and swelled at room temperature (23℃). We compared the swelling ratio of thick (1290 μm) and thin (290 μm) microfibers, and confirmed that the thinner microfiber had a faster response. We also fabricated a double-layered microfiber. One layer was composed of p(NIPAM-co-AAc) and calcium alginate (CaAlg) hydrogel, and the other layer was CaAlg hydrogel. At high temperature (75℃) the double-layered microfiber actuated by the shrinkage of p(NIPAM-co-AAc) and CaAlg hydrogel. Our double-layered microfiber could be applied to hydrogel-based soft micro actuators.
