Biomimetic Scaffold for Smart Transportation

Stimuli-responsive materials have generated significant interest because of their ability to undergo a conformational change and alter their material properties under the influence of an applied stimulus. Inspired by the natural leaf folding mechanism of the carnivorous plant Drosera capensis L. (Droseraceae) to trap insects, we developed a microsphere transporting platform of pH-responsive bicompartmental fibers created via electrohydrodynamic (EHD) co-jetting. The change in pH coupled with buffer addition induces an anisotropic swelling of the fibers, which results in the folding of fibers around the microsphere, comparable to the carnivorous plant. Further, when jetted in an appropriate scaffold structure, the fibers can generate a force of ~40 nN, enough to transport placed microspheres specifically towards the center of the scaffold. This biomimetic mechanism provides a promising platform for the design of advanced medical applications utilizing the directional transport of microspheres, drug delivery systems, and self‐cleaning applications.