Patent ID: 9651548
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: B01L,B81B,C12P,C12Q,G01N,G05D

Claim:
1. A method of chemo-mechano-chemical (C 1 -M-C 2 ) actuation, comprising: (a) providing a chemo-mechano-chemical (C a base supporting an actuatable structure, said structure comprising a functionalized portion and being embedded in an environmentally responsive gel capable of volume change in response to an environmental stimulus; a first fluid layer disposed over the base and in contact with the actuatable structure, said first fluid layer comprising the environmentally responsive gel; and a second fluid layer in contact with the actuatable structure, wherein the first and second fluid layers are positioned such that the functionalized portion is in contact with the second fluid layer in a first relaxed state and in contact with the first fluid layer in a second actuated state and wherein the functionalized portion interacts with at least one of the layers to provide a chemical or physical response; and (b) exposing the system to a stimulus, wherein the actuatable structure moves from the first relaxed position in which the functionalized portion is in contact with the second fluid layer to the second actuated position in which the functionalized portion is in contact with the first fluid layer, wherein the functionalized portion undergoes a chemical reaction with at least one component of one of the first and second fluid layers, and wherein the system reversibly actuates and triggers the chemical reaction C