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International Journal of Bioprinting 3D-printed thermosensitive hydrogel based microrobots

genuine development engine for PNAGA hydrogels,
benefiting their extensive applications in biomedical field
in the future.

Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge Ming Yang, a postgraduate
student at the Southern University of Science and
Technology, for helping with the SEM characterization.

Funding
This work is funded by the Shenzhen Institute of Artificial
Intelligence and Robotics for Society (AC01202101106
[2020-ICP002]).

Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions
Conceptualization: Yan Zhou, Xiaopu Wang
Formal analysis: Yan Zhou, Min Ye
Investigation: Yan Zhou, Min Ye, Hongyu Zhao
Figure 11. Motion control of helix PNAGA-100 thermosensitive micro- Methodology: Yan Zhou
robot under a magnetic actuator.
Writing – original draft: Yan Zhou
Writing – review & editing: Yan Zhou, Xiaopu Wang
4. Conclusion
In conclusion, we developed a new method (3D printing) Ethics approval and consent to participate
to prepare PNAGA-based hydrogels. Compared to the Not applicable.
previously reported UV polymerization of PNAGA,
PNAGA microrobots fabricated by 3D printing manifest Consent for publication
more compact and accurate structures (from SEM). We
have successfully endowed the PNAGA-based 3D-printed Not applicable.
hydrogels with fast temperature-response ability.
The thermosensitive properties of these microrobots Availability of data
are highly dependent on the NAGA monomer Not applicable.
concentrations, from which PNAGA-100 exhibits the best
thermosensitive performance with the maximum growth References
rate (22.5%) at 45°C. The mechanism of concentration
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proposed in relation to the polymerization density and Commercial hydrogels for biomedical applications. Heliyon,
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PNAGA-100 microrobots were evaluated, and a two- to https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03719
three times higher drug release amount was achieved at 2. Gaharwar AK, Peppas NA, Khademhosseini A, 2014,
45°C compared to 25°C, which are well in accordance Nanocomposite hydrogels for biomedical applications.
with their thermosensitive properties. Furthermore, Biotechnol Bioeng, 111(3):441–453.
PNAGA-100-based thermosensitive microrobots were https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.25160
proven to be endowed with good biocompatibility and
magnetic responsive ability, making them promising 3. Kahn JS, Hu Y, Willner I, 2017, Stimuli-responsive DNA-
candidates for fulfilling various tasks in vivo. Fabricating based hydrogels: From basic principles to applications. Acc
PNAGA hydrogel-based microrobots by introducing Chem Res, 50(4):680–690.
advanced 3D printing technology is believed to be a https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00542

Volume 9 Issue 3 (2023) 281 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.709