Abstract: A biorobotic hybrid heart that preserves organic intracardiac structures and mimics cardiac motion by image-guided replication of the cardiac myofiber architecture of the left ventricle with an active synthetic myocardium that drives the motion of the heart. The active soft tissue mimic is adhered to the organic endocardial tissue in a helical fashion using a custom-designed adhesive to form a flexible, conformable, and watertight organosynthetic interface.

Abstract: Described herein are window retrofits including a monolithic silica aerogel slab having (i) an average haze value of <5% as calculated in accordance with ASTM standard D1003-13 and (ii) a U-factor of <0.5 BTU/sf/hr/° F., and a transparent polymer envelope sealed at an internal pressure of ?1 atmosphere, wherein the monolithic silica aerogel slab is encapsulated in the transparent polymer envelope. The monolithic aerogel slab can have a transmittance >94% at 8 mm thickness. The window retrofit can be bonded to a glass sheet.

Abstract: Hydrogel-elastomer hybrids with interfacial bonding tougher than epidermis-dermis interfaces and functional micro-channels and micro-patterns can be created by pre-shaping both elastomers and hydrogels before bonding to conserve their micro-structures, modifying cured elastomer surfaces with benzophenone for chemical bonding with hydrogels, and harnessing dissipative properties of tough hydrogels to achieve robust interfaces.

Abstract: Robotic devices and methods for performing minimally invasive procedures on the vascular system, particularly cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgical procedures, where a submillimeter-scale continuum robotic device is configured and adapted for active steering and navigation based on external magnetic actuation. The submillimeter-scale continuum robotic device includes an elongate body having an inner core and an outer shell, where the outer shell is fabricated of an elastomeric material having a plurality of ferromagnetic particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: The invention features a composition comprising a self-healing interpenetrating network hydrogel comprising a first network and a second network. The first network comprises covalent crosslinks and the second network comprises ionic or physical crosslinks. For example, the first network comprises a polyacrylamide polymer and second network comprises an alginate polymer.

Abstract: A tissue adhesive material that provides fast and robust adhesion even on tissue surfaces covered in bodily fluids. The tissue adhesive material is formed of a hydrophobic matrix and a plurality of bioadhesive microparticles dispersed within the hydrophobic matrix configured such that disposing the adhesive material directly on a fluid covered surface and applying pressure causes the (a) hydrophobic matrix to repel the fluid, (b) the bioadhesive particles to compress forming an adhesive layer, and (c) the bioadhesive particles to form temporary crosslinks followed by covalent crosslinks with the surface.

Abstract: Enhanced cleaning of a fouled membrane is achieved via controlled deformation in a method wherein a feed composition, comprising a solvent and dissolved components, flows into a retentate side of a membrane module. The solvent passes through the membrane from the retentate side to a permeate or draw side of the membrane module while retaining the dissolved components on the membrane. As a foulant accumulates on either side of the membrane, a driving force is generated across the membrane, wherein the membrane responds cyclically by deforming back and forth toward the permeate or draw side and toward the retentate side. The foulant is dislodged from the membrane via mechanical fatigue at the foulant-membrane interface caused by the deformation of the membrane and contact with a spacer in contact with the membrane.

Abstract: A robust hydrogel-solid hybrid formed of a substrate material having a nonporous and non-topographically patterned surface and a tough hydrogel bonded to the surface, the tough hydrogel having over 90 wt % water, and the hydrogel being bonded to provide interfacial toughness over 300 Jm?2, and even over 1000 Jm?2. The hydrogel is formed of polyacrylamide or polyethylene glycol diacrylate, which provide long-chain polymer networks, and chitosan, hyaluronan, or alginate, which provide mechanically dissipative components. An anchor, which can be a silane, a sulfide, or an amine, is disposed between the surface and the hydrogel to provide chemical bonding between the surface and the long-chain networks of the hydrogel.

Abstract: Robotic devices and methods for performing minimally invasive procedures on the vascular system, particularly cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgical procedures, where a submillimeter-scale continuum robotic device is configured and adapted for active steering and navigation based on external magnetic actuation. The submillimeter-scale continuum robotic device includes an elongate body having an inner core and an outer shell, where the outer shell is fabricated of an elastomeric material having a plurality of ferromagnetic particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: An expandable hydrogel structure formed of a housing with a superabsorbent material disposed and sealed therein, particularly wherein the housing is fabricated of a hydrogel membrane with a plurality of macropores providing fluid communication between the superabsorbent material and an exterior of the housing. Exposure of the superabsorbent material to an expansion trigger expands the housing from an initial size to an expanded size that is at least about 50 times to at least about 100 times the initial size. One or more therapeutic agents can further be disposed within the housing to provide controlled release of the therapeutic agents from the expanded housing for extended periods.

Abstract: Adhesion of conducting polymers on diverse insulating and conductive substrates via a hydrophilic adhesion layer, where one or more functional groups may be disposed between the substrate and the hydrophilic adhesion layer. Adhesion of the conducting polymers on the substrates is such that adhesion is maintained or substantially maintained in wet physiological environments.

Abstract: Systems and methods for three-dimensionally printing different configurations of a printed fiber using a single nozzle are provided. The provided systems and methods harness deformation, instability, and fracture of viscoelastic materials to adjust dimensionless parameters related to a speed of extrusion and a height of a nozzle to create the different configurations. A controller of the system can operate to create these different configurations using the single nozzle without having to change out hardware during the process. Instead, the dimensionless parameters can be adjusted while the printing is occurring to achieve the different configurations. The disclosure provides various systems for carrying out the printing, and methods of using the same.

Abstract: Dry adhesive materials, particularly in the form of a film or tape, for adhering one or more wet surfaces comprising: (i) one or more hydrophilic polymers; (ii) one or more amine coupling groups, and (iii) one or more cross linkers. The dry adhesive material, when placed in contact with the one or more wet surfaces, absorbs liquid from the one or more wet surfaces, swells to form temporary crosslinking with the wet surface, and forms covalent crosslinking with the one or more wet surfaces.

Abstract: Pure conducting hydrogel precursors and hydrogels formed of pure conducting polymer materials having a combination of high electrical conductivity, high stretchability, low Young's modulus, superior mechanical, electrical and electrochemical stability, and tunable swelling behaviors in wet physiological environments. The hydrogel precursors and hydrogels are fabricated by adding a polar organic solvent to an aqueous solution of the pure conducting polymer material, followed by controlled dry-annealing to form a hydrogel precursor which can be subsequently rehydrated to form a pure conducting polymer hydrogel which comprises at least 99% of the pure conducting polymer.

Abstract: A responsive material having an elastomeric matrix in which ferromagnetic particles are dispersed so as to have a predetermined magnetization pattern which, when exposed to an external magnetic field, changes the shape of the responsive material from an initial shape to a predetermined transformed shape dictated by the magnetization pattern. An initial shape of the responsive material is formed by direct ink printing while applying magnetic fields to a dispensing nozzle to align the particles and gives rise to the desired magnetization pattern.

Abstract: The invention features a composition comprising a self-healing interpenetrating network hydrogel comprising a first network and a second network. The first network comprises covalent crosslinks and the second network comprises ionic or physical crosslinks. For example, the first network comprises a polyacrylamide polymer and second network comprises an alginate polymer.

Abstract: Described herein are window retrofits including a monolithic silica aerogel slab having (i) an average haze value of <5% as calculated in accordance with ASTM standard D1003-13 and (ii) a U-factor of <0.5 BTU/sf/hr/° F., and a transparent polymer envelope sealed at an internal pressure of ?1 atmosphere, wherein the monolithic silica aerogel slab is encapsulated in the transparent polymer envelope. The monolithic aerogel slab can have a transmittance >94% at 8 mm thickness. The window retrofit can be bonded to a glass sheet.

Abstract: The invention features a composition comprising a self-healing interpenetrating network hydrogel comprising a first network and a second network. The first network comprises covalent crosslinks and the second network comprises ionic or physical crosslinks. For example, the first network comprises a polyacrylamide polymer and second network comprises an alginate polymer.

Abstract: Provided herein, in some embodiments, are hydrogel-elastomer and hydrogel-alginate devices, compositions and associated methods to encapsulate living cells.

Abstract: Hydrogel-substrate laminate structures and tough biocompatible hydrogel coatings for various equipment such as medical devices and underwater equipment, in which robust interfaces are formed between the hydrogel coatings and the substrate/equipment surface(s). The hydrogel coatings provide a highly-hydrated, ultra-low friction structure that does not rupture or delaminate under stress. The hydrogel coatings may further incorporate a variety of therapeutic agents and/or sensing mechanisms to provide for environmental sensing and therapeutic agent release.