@misc{FarhanChaudharyNoecheletal.2020,
  author    = {Farhan, Muhammad and Chaudhary, Deeptangshu and N{\"o}chel, Ulrich and Behl, Marc and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Electrical actuation of coated and composite fibers based on poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)]},
  series = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {2},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-57167},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-571679},
  pages     = {10},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Robots are typically controlled by electrical signals. Resistive heating is an option to electrically trigger actuation in thermosensitive polymer systems. In this study electrically triggerable poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] (PEVA)-based fiber actuators are realized as composite fibers as well as polymer fibers with conductive coatings. In the coated fibers, the core consists of crosslinked PEVA (cPEVA), while the conductive coating shell is achieved via a dip coating procedure with a coating thickness between 10 and 140 mu m. The conductivity of coated fibers sigma = 300-550 S m(-1) is much higher than that of the composite fibers sigma = 5.5 S m(-1). A voltage (U) of 110 V is required to heat 30 cm of coated fiber to a targeted temperature of approximate to 65 degrees C for switching in less than a minute. Cyclic electrical actuation investigations reveal epsilon '(rev) = 5 +/- 1\% reversible change in length for coated fibers. The fabrication of such electro-conductive polymeric actuators is suitable for upscaling so that their application potential as artificial muscles can be explored in future studies.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FarhanRudolphKratzetal.2018,
  author    = {Farhan, Muhammad and Rudolph, Tobias and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Torsional Fiber Actuators from Shape-memory Polymer},
  series = {MRS Advances},
  volume    = {3},
  journal   = {MRS Advances},
  number    = {63},
  publisher = {Cambridge Univ. Press},
  address   = {New York},
  issn      = {2059-8521},
  doi       = {10.1557/adv.2018.621},
  pages     = {3861 -- 3868},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Humanoid robots, prosthetic limbs and exoskeletons require soft actuators to perform their primary function, which is controlled movement. In this wont we explored whether crosslinked poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] (cPEVA) fibers, with different vinyl acetate (VA) content can serve as torsional fiber actuators. exhibiting temperature controlled reversible rotational changes. Broad melting transitions ranging from 50 to 90 degrees C for cPEVA18-165 or from 40 to 80 degrees C for cPEVA28-165 fibers in combination with complete crystallization at temperatures around 10 degrees C make them suitable actuating materials with adjustable actuation temperature ranges between 10 and 70 degrees C during repetitive cooling and heating. The obtained fibers exhibited a circular cross section with diameters around 0.4 +/- 0.1 mm, while a length of 4 cm was employed for the investigation of reversible rotational actuation after programming by twist insertion using 30 complete rotations at a temperature above melting transition. Repetitive heating and cooling between 10 to 60 degrees C or 70 degrees C of one-end-tethered programmed fibers revealed reversible rotations and torsional force. During cooling 3 +/- 1 complete rotations (Delta theta(r) = + 1080 +/- 360 degrees) in twisting direction were observed, while 4 +/- 1 turns in the opposite direction (Delta theta(r) = - 1440 +/- 1360 degrees) were found during heating. Such torsional fiber actuators, which are capable of approximately one rotation per cm fiber length, can serve as miniaturized rotary motors to provide rotational actuation in futuristic humanoid robots.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FarhanRudolphNoecheletal.2018,
  author    = {Farhan, Muhammad and Rudolph, Tobias and N{\"o}chel, Ulrich and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Extractable Free Polymer Chains Enhance Actuation Performance of Crystallizable Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) Networks and Enable Self-Healing},
  series = {Polymers},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Polymers},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2073-4360},
  doi       = {10.3390/polym10030255},
  pages     = {15},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Crosslinking of thermoplastics is a versatile method to create crystallizable polymer networks, which are of high interest for shape-memory actuators. Here, crosslinked poly(epsilon-caprolactone) thermosets (cPCLs) were prepared from linear starting material, whereby the amount of extractable polymer was varied. Fractions of 5-60 wt \% of non-crosslinked polymer chains, which freely interpenetrate the crosslinked network, were achieved leading to differences in the resulting phase of the bulk material. This can be described as "sponge-like" with open or closed compartments depending on the amount of interpenetrating polymer. The crosslinking density and the average network chain length remained in a similar range for all network structures, while the theoretical accessible volume for reptation of the free polymer content is affected. This feature could influence or introduce new functions into the material created by thermomechanical treatment. The effect of interpenetrating PCL in cPCLs on the reversible actuation was analyzed by cyclic, uniaxial tensile tests. Here, high reversible strains of up to Delta epsilon = 24\% showed the enhanced actuation performance of networks with a non-crosslinked PCL content of 30 wt \% resulting from the crystal formation in the phase of the non-crosslinked PCL and co-crystallization with network structures. Additional functionalities are reprogrammability and self-healing capabilities for networks with high contents of extractable polymer enabling reusability and providing durable actuator materials.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FarhanRudolphNoecheletal.2017,
  author    = {Farhan, Muhammad and Rudolph, Tobias and N{\"o}chel, Ulrich and Yan, Wan and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Noncontinuously Responding Polymeric Actuators},
  series = {ACS applied materials \& interfaces},
  volume    = {9},
  journal   = {ACS applied materials \& interfaces},
  publisher = {American Chemical Society},
  address   = {Washington},
  issn      = {1944-8244},
  doi       = {10.1021/acsami.7b11316},
  pages     = {33559 -- 33564},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Reversible movements of current polymeric actuators stem from the continuous response to signals from a controlling unit, and subsequently cannot be interrupted without stopping or eliminating the input trigger. Here, we present actuators based on cross-linked blends of two crystallizable polymers capable of pausing their movements in a defined manner upon continuous cyclic heating and cooling. This noncontinuous actuation can be adjusted by varying the applied heating and cooling rates. The feasibility of these devices for technological applications was shown in a 140 cycle experiment of free-standing noncontinuous shape shifts, as well as by various demonstrators.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GhobadiHeuchelKratzetal.2012,
  author    = {Ghobadi, Ehsan and Heuchel, Matthias and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Simulation of volumetric swelling of degradable poly[(rac-lactide)-co-glycolide] based polyesterurethanes containing different urethane-linkers},
  series = {Journal of applied biomaterials \& functional materials},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Journal of applied biomaterials \& functional materials},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Wichtig},
  address   = {Milano},
  issn      = {2280-8000},
  doi       = {10.5301/JABFM.2012.10432},
  pages     = {293 -- 301},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Aim: The hydrolytic degradation behavior of degradable aliphatic polyester-based polymers is strongly influenced by the uptake or transport of water into the polymer matrix and also the hydrolysis rate of ester bonds. Methods: We examined the volumetric swelling behavior of poly[(rac-lactide)-co-glycolide] (PLGA) and PLGA-based polyurethanes (PLGA-PU) with water contents of 0 wt\%, 2 wt\% and 7 wt\% water at 310 K using a molecular modeling approach. Polymer systems with a number average molecular weight of M-n = 10,126 g.mol(-1) were constructed from PLGA with a lactide content of 67 mol\%, whereby PLGA-PU systems were composed of five PLGA segments with M-n = 2052 g.mol(-1), which were connected via urethane linkers originated from 2,2,4-trimethyl hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate (TMDI), hexamethyl-1,6-diisocyanate (HDI), or L-lysine-1,6-diisocyanate (LDI). Results: The calculated densities of the dry PLGA-PU systems were found to be lower than for pure PLGA. The obtained volumetric swelling of the PLGA-PU was depending on the type of urethane linker, whereby all swollen PLGA-PUs contained larger free volume distribution compared to pure PLGA. The mean square displacement curves for dry PLGA and PLGA-PUs showed that urethane linker units reduce the mobility of the polymer chains, while an increase in backbone atoms mobility was found, when water was added to these systems. Consequently, an increased water uptake of PLGA-PU matrices combined with a higher mobility of the chain segments should result in an accelerated hydrolytic chain scission rate in comparison to PLGA. Conclusions: It can be anticipated that the incorporation of urethane linkers might be a helpful tool to adjust the degradation behavior of polyesters.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GhobadiHeuchelKratzetal.2012,
  author    = {Ghobadi, Ehsan and Heuchel, Matthias and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Influence of different heating regimes on the shape-recovery behavior of poly(L-lactide) in simulated thermomechanical tests},
  series = {Journal of applied biomaterials \& functional materials},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Journal of applied biomaterials \& functional materials},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Wichtig},
  address   = {Milano},
  issn      = {2280-8000},
  doi       = {10.5301/JABFM.2012.10440},
  pages     = {259 -- 264},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Aim: Multifunctional polymer-based biomaterials, which combine degradability with a shape-memory capability and in this way enable the design of actively moving implants such as self-anchoring implants or controlled release systems, have been recently introduced. Of particular interest are approved degradable polymers such as poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), which can be easily functionalized with a shape-memory effect. In the case of semicrystalline PLLA, the glass transition can be utilized as shape-memory switching domain. Methods: In this work we applied a fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulation to study the shape-memory behavior of PLLA. A heating-deformation-cooling programming procedure was applied to atomistic PLLA packing models followed by a recovery module under stress-free conditions allowing the shape recovery. The recovery was simulated by heating the samples from T-low = 250 K to T-high = 500 K with different heating rates beta of 125, 40 and 4 K.ns(-1). Results: We could demonstrate that the obtained strain recovery rate (R-r) was strongly influenced by the applied simulation time and heating rate, whereby R-r values in the range from 46\% to 63\% were achieved. On its own the application of a heating rate of 4 K.ns(-1) enabled us to determine a characteristic switching temperature of T-sw = 473 K for the modeled samples. Conclusions: We anticipate that the atomistic modeling approach presented should be capable of enabling further study of T-sw with respect to the molecular structure of the investigated SMP and therefore could be applied in the context of design and development of new shape-memory (bio) materials.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GhobadiHeuchelKratzetal.2013,
  author    = {Ghobadi, Ehsan and Heuchel, Matthias and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Simulating the shape-Memory behavior of amorphous switching domains of Poly(L-lactide) by molecular dynamics},
  series = {Macromolecular chemistry and physics},
  volume    = {214},
  journal   = {Macromolecular chemistry and physics},
  number    = {11},
  publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
  address   = {Weinheim},
  issn      = {1022-1352},
  doi       = {10.1002/macp.201200450},
  pages     = {1273 -- 1283},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {The thermally induced shape-memory effect of polymers is typically characterized by cyclic uniaxial thermomechanical tests. Here, a molecular-dynamics (MD) simulation approach of such a cyclic uniaxial thermomechanical test is presented for amorphous switching domains of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA). Uniaxial deformation of the constructed PLLA models is simulated with a Parinello-Rahman scheme, as well as a pragmatic geometrical approach. We are able to describe two subsequent test cycles using the presented simulation approach. The obtained simulated shape-memory properties in both test cycles are similar and independent of the applied deformation protocols. The simulated PLLA shows high shape fixity ratios (Rf 94\%), but only a moderate shape recovery ratio is obtained (Rr 30\%). Finally, the structural changes during the simulated test are characterized by analysis of the changes in the dihedral angle distributions.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GhobadiHeuchelKratzetal.2014,
  author    = {Ghobadi, Ehsan and Heuchel, Matthias and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Atomistic simulation of the shape-memory effect in dry and water swollen Poly[(rac-lactide)-co-glycolide] and copolyester urethanes thereof},
  series = {Macromolecular chemistry and physics},
  volume    = {215},
  journal   = {Macromolecular chemistry and physics},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
  address   = {Weinheim},
  issn      = {1022-1352},
  doi       = {10.1002/macp.201300507},
  pages     = {65 -- 75},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {An atomistic molecular dynamics simulation approach is applied to model the influence of urethane linker units as well as the addition of water molecules on the simulated shape-memory properties of poly[(rac-lactide)-co-glycolide] (PLGA) and PLGA-based copolyester urethanes comprising different urethane linkers. The shape-memory performance of these amorphous packing models is explored in a simulated heating-deformation-cooling-heating procedure. Depending on the type of incorporated urethane linker, the mechanical properties of the dry copolyester urethanes are found to be significantly improved compared with PLGA, which can be attributed to the number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the urethane units. Good shape-memory properties are observed for all the modeled systems. In the dry state, the shape fixation is found to be improved by implementation of urethane units. After swelling of the copolymer models with water, which results in a reduction of their glass transition temperatures, the relaxation kinetics during unloading and shape recovery are found to be substantially accelerated.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HaaseKrostSauteretal.2017,
  author    = {Haase, Tobias and Krost, Annalena and Sauter, Tilman and Kratz, Karl and Peter, Jan and Kamann, Stefanie and Jung, Friedrich and Lendlein, Andreas and Zohlnh{\"o}fer, Dietlind and R{\"u}der, Constantin},
  title     = {In vivo biocompatibility assessment of poly (ether imide) electrospun scaffolds},
  series = {Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Wiley},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {1932-6254},
  doi       = {10.1002/term.2002},
  pages     = {1034 -- 1044},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Poly(ether imide) (PEI), which can be chemically functionalized with biologically active ligands, has emerged as a potential biomaterial for medical implants. Electrospun PEI scaffolds have shown advantageous properties, such as enhanced endothelial cell adherence, proliferation and low platelet adhesion in in vitro experiments. In this study, the in vivo behaviour of electrospun PEI scaffolds and PEI films was examined in a murine subcutaneous implantation model. Electrospun PEI scaffolds and films were surgically implanted subcutaneously in the dorsae of mice. The surrounding subcutaneous tissue response was examined via histopathological examination at 7 and 28days after implantation. No serious adverse events were observed for both types of PEI implants. The presence of macrophages or foreign body giant cells in the vicinity of the implants and the formation of a fibrous capsule indicated a normal foreign body reaction towards PEI films and scaffolds. Capsule thickness and inflammatory infiltration cells significantly decreased for PEI scaffolds during days 7-28 while remaining unchanged for PEI films. The infiltration of cells into the implant was observed for PEI scaffolds 7days after implantation and remained stable until 28days of implantation. Additionally some, but not all, PEI scaffold implants induced the formation of functional blood vessels in the vicinity of the implants. Conclusively, this study demonstrates the in vivo biocompatibility of PEI implants, with favourable properties of electrospun PEI scaffolds regarding tissue integration and wound healing.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HeuchelGerberKratzetal.2017,
  author    = {Heuchel, Matthias and Gerber, David and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Morphological analysis of differently sized highly porous poly(ether imide) microparticles by mercury porosimetry},
  series = {Polymers for advanced technologies},
  volume    = {28},
  journal   = {Polymers for advanced technologies},
  publisher = {Wiley},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {1042-7147},
  doi       = {10.1002/pat.3973},
  pages     = {1269 -- 1277},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Highly porous poly(ether imide) (PEI) microparticles prepared by a spraying/coagulation process are discussed as candidate adsorber materials for apheresis applications, i.e. removal of uremic toxins from the blood of renal failure patients. PEI particles obtained by the aforementioned procedure can have a broad size distribution with particle diameters ranging from 20 to 800 mu m. In order to further estimate the adsorption behavior of PEI microparticles packed in application relevant apheresis modules, a quantitative information about the relation between particle size and pore morphology is required. In this study, we explored whether the intraparticle porosity of PEI microparticles varies with altering the diameter of the particulate adsorbers. By an analytical wet sieving procedure, the obtained PEI microparticles were separated into five size fractions, which were analyzed by mercury intrusion porosimetry, nitrogen adsorption, and scanning electron microscopy. Mercury intrusion porosimetry revealed for all size fractions high porosity values in the range from 78\% to 84\% with pore diameters in the range from 10 to 1000nm. A bimodal pore size distribution was found having a first peak at around 100nm, while a second pronounced peak maximum was found at higher pore sizes that increased with raising particle diameter from 300nm for the smallest particle size fraction (50-100 mu m) to 700nm for particles with a diameter of 200 to 250 mu m. Based on these findings, it can be assumed that the main PEI particle size fraction (200-250 mu m) should exhibit the highest adsorption capacity in an apheresis module. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.},
  language  = {en}
}