Medical Devices
Implants, tissue scaffolds, drug delivery and other medical applications.
A novel mechanical metamaterial with tunable mechanical and compression-torsion properties
A proposed mechanical metamaterial tunes Poisson’s ratio, elastic modulus, and compression–torsion properties by altering unit cell number and how unit cells are combined, aiming to reduce redesign and manufacturing cost.
A auxetic metamaterial structure: analysis of shear and bending, mechanical characterization
Auxetic (negative Poisson’s ratio) re-entrant unit-cell designs integrated into bone screws improved load-bearing capacity and deformation resistance under shear and bending versus conventional screws.
Scientists discover a strange property in rice and turn it into a smart material
A rice-derived, pressure-rate-dependent effect was used to engineer a material that automatically adapts stiffness to distinguish gentle motion from sudden impacts.
Light-activated gel could impact wearables, soft robotics, and more
A light-activated, biocompatible soft gel is reported to dramatically change its conductivity, supporting ionotronics-style interfaces for wearables and soft robotics.
Martensitic Transformation in Crystal-Amorphous Superlattices of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy
Crystal-amorphous superlattices in NiTi are simulated to shift martensitic transformation behavior, boosting reversibility and stiffness while raising transformation critical stress.
An Autonomous Subgram SMA-Based Swimmer
Swima is a bioinspired subgram microswimmer using onboard-powered SMA-wire actuators and computation to achieve autonomous swimming with measured speed, turning, and trajectory tracking.
Recent progress in 4D printing: materials, methods and applications
This review synthesizes how 4D printing couples additive methods with stimulus-responsive materials—especially shape-memory polymers—to achieve programmed, time-dependent shape and property changes, while noting reliability and scalability
Machine learning-guided tuning of shape memory behavior in 4D-printed single-layer elastomer strip
Machine learning-guided optimization of 4D-printed PU/Eudragit S100/MTZ elastomer strips enables strong mechanical performance and high shape recovery for pH-responsive, site-specific drug delivery.
Controlled drug delivery from chitosan-coated heparin-loaded nanopores anodically grown on nitinol shape-memory alloy
A two-stage anodized nitinol surface coated with chitosan forms a hydrophilic, nanoporous platform that controls heparin release via diffusion and shows non-cytotoxicity in vitro.
Variational phase-field modeling of fracture and fatigue in shape memory alloys: a one-dimensional study
A new 1D variational phase-field model links SMA phase transformation and damage to reproduce distinctive fracture localization and fatigue trends in Ni-Ti multi-wire samples.
Current 3D Printing and Developed 4D Printing Technologies in Dentistry
The record reviews how 4D printing with stimuli-responsive smart materials could enable adaptive, time-evolving dental devices, though translation to routine practice still needs further research.
Design, modelling and experimental validation of bipenniform shape memory alloy-based linear actuator integrable with hydraulic stroke amplification mechanism
A bio-inspired bipenniform SMA coil linear actuator is modelled and experimentally validated, achieving 257 N at 15 V and reduced drive mechanism weight and energy versus a stepper motor benchmark.
4D Printing with Liquid Crystal Elastomers: Materials, Methods, and Emerging Applications
A review summarizes how 4D printing of liquid crystal elastomers enables programmable, reversible shape changes and surveys fabrication methods, integrations, and remaining challenges.
Force Characterization of Insect-Scale Aquatic Propulsion Based on Fluid-Structure Interaction
Insect-scale microrobotic swimmers with SMA-driven soft tails are force-characterized, yielding first instantaneous thrust measurements linked to fluid-structure interaction.
Comparison of derivative-free and gradient-based minimization for multi-objective compositional design of shape memory alloys
Using physics-informed ML surrogates and optimization, gradient-based TRUST-CONSTR paired with a neural network more consistently finds SMA compositions that balance martensitic start temperature and cost than derivative-free COBYLA.
4D Printing in Biomedical Implants and Functional Healthcare Devices
A review of biomedical 4D printing that links stimuli-responsive material platforms to programmed, time-dependent actuation for implants, drug delivery, and adaptive wearables.
Generative Inversion for Property-Targeted Materials Design: Application to Shape Memory Alloys
A GAN-inversion framework coupled with property prediction enables property-targeted inverse design of high-performance NiTi-based shape memory alloys, validated by experimental synthesis.
FUTURE OF 4D PRINTING IN SOFT ROBOTICS AND INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION
A 2015–2025 review synthesizes how 4D printing with stimulus-responsive materials enables programmable, adaptive soft robotics and intelligent automation, while highlighting remaining barriers to translation.
Revolutionizing Personalized Medicine with 4D Printing in Drug Delivery
4D printing uses dynamic materials that change with temperature, humidity, and pH to enable environment- and body-signal–dependent, personalized drug delivery.
Applications and Research of 4D Printing in Material Design
4D printing integrates smart materials into additive manufacturing so cured parts can undergo programmable, stimulus-driven shape and functionality changes over time.
Exploring 4D Printing Technology for Biomedical Applications
The editorial argues that adding a time dimension to 3D printing via stimuli-responsive materials enables dynamic, personalized biomedical devices such as adaptive implants and controlled drug-release hydrogel capsules.
Revisiting the cofactor conditions: Elimination of transition layers in compound domains
A new algebraic compatibility framework predicts conditions for eliminating transition layers and yields novel zero-elastic-energy microstructures that can improve shape-memory alloy reversibility and durability.
Lactobacilli in Material Science: Sustainable Biopolymers and Self-Healing Technologies
Lactobacilli-based biofabrication is presented as a route to biodegradable biopolymers, self-repairing concrete, and antimicrobial coatings.
Controlled release of entrapped nanoparticles from thermoresponsive hydrogels with tunable network characteristics
Temperature-driven PNIPAM hydrogel transitions can switch nanoparticle transport from subdiffusive motion to strong trapping or near-complete stopping, enabling tunable controlled release.