Photoresponsive Polymer‐Based Biomimetic Contractile Units as Building Block for Artificial Muscles

Loss of muscular mechanical function occurs in several diseases affecting millions people worldwide, including heart failure, stroke, and neuromuscular disorders. To date, no medical or surgical treatments can restore contractility, the development artificial muscles is extreme interest. Mimicking biological muscles, which are optimized systems displaying quick reaction times, not trivial; only few examples reported, mainly focused on use biomimetic smart materials. Among them, liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) be biocompatible, show contraction parameters comparable to those native striated able effectively potentiate cardiac vitro. go further develop vivo implantable devices, integration stimulation system with LCE material represents an essential step. Here, a light-stimulated contractile unit (BCU), combining ultra-thin photoresponsive films mini-LED (mLED) matrixes described. BCU performance (in terms extent kinetics force shortening) fine-tuned by modulating both mLED light power spatial patterns, allowing reproduce dynamics muscles. These results pave way for novel LCE-based assist devices cardiac, skeletal, smooth muscle support assembling multiple BCUs.