Utilization of life-like hydrogels to replicate synergistic shape/color changeable behaviors of living organisms has been long envisaged to produce robust functional integrated soft actuators/robots. However, it remains challenging to construct such hydrogel systems with integrated functionality of remote, localized and environment-interactive control over synergistic discoloration/actuation. Herein, inspired by the evolution-optimized bioelectricity stimulus and multilayer structure of natural reptile skins, electronically innervated fluorescence-color switchable hydrogel actuating systems with bio-inspired multilayer structure comprising of responsive fluorescent hydrogel sheet and conductive Graphene/PDMS film with electrothermal effect is presented. Such rational structure enables remote control over synergistic fluorescence-color and shape changes of the systems via the cascading “electrical trigger-Joule heat generation-hydrogel shrinkage” mechanism. Consequently, local/sequential control of discoloration/actuation are achieved due to the highly controllable electrical stimulus in terms of amplitude and circuit design. Furthermore, by joint use with acoustic sensors, soft chameleon robots with unprecedented environment-interactive adaptation are demonstrated, which can intelligently sense environment signals to adjust their color/shape-changeable behaviors. This work opens previously unidentified avenues for functional integrated soft actuators/robots and will inspire life-like intelligent systems for versatile uses.
Electrical stimulation can effectively accelerate bone healing. However, the substantial size and weight of electrical stimulation devices result in reduced patient benefits and compliance. It remains a challenge to establish a flexible and lightweight implantable microelectronic stimulator for bone regeneration. Here, we use self-powered technology to develop an electric pulse stimulator without circuits and batteries, which removes the problems of weight, volume, and necessary rigid packaging. The fully implantable bone defect electrical stimulation (BD-ES) system combines a hybrid tribo/piezoelectric nanogenerator to provide biphasic electric pulses in response to rehabilitation exercise with a conductive bioactive hydrogel. BD-ES can enhance multiple osteogenesis-related biological processes, including calcium ion import and osteogenic differentiation. In a rat model of critical-sized femoral defects, the bone defect was reversed by electrical stimulation therapy with BD-ES and subsequent bone mineralization, and the femur completely healed within 6 weeks. This work is expected to advance the development of symbiotic electrical stimulation therapy devices without batteries and circuits.