Issue

Vol. 18 (2026)

NIR and Oxidative Stress-Modulated Intestinal Peristalsis Motion of Tubular Conductive Thermo-Hydrogel Actuator

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02257-x
A. Hyeon Kim
Department of IT and Energy Convergence, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju 27469, Republic of Korea
Hayeon Jo
Department of IT and Energy Convergence, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju 27469, Republic of Korea
Kaustuv Roy
Department of IT and Energy Convergence, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju 27469, Republic of Korea
Sung Young Park
Department of IT and Energy Convergence, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju 27469, Republic of Korea

Corresponding Author: Sung Young Park

parkchem@ut.ac.kr

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 427

Abstract

Actuators for soft bionic robotics, utilizing disease microenvironment-responsive and mechanically flexible materials, are influenced by intra- and intermolecular structures of hydrogels. However, they lack the required endogenous stimuli responsiveness necessary for applications like gastrointestinal-targeted drug screening and liquid/mass transport. Herein, a tubular conductive, reactive oxygen species (ROS)- and an near infrared (NIR)-responsive thermo-hydrogel actuator (THA) was fabricated for viscous liquid and solid transport. The presence of diselenide-crosslinked polymer dots (PDs) loaded onto polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles (PD@PDA) in a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and polyvinyl alcohol (PNIPAM/PVA) matrix provided the necessary LCST alongside ROS- and NIR-responsive behavior. In the presence of high ROS, the diselenide bonds cleaved, resulting in release of PDA, generating NIR-specific actuation. The actuation process was confirmed by the directional movement of silicone oil (MR-200) and a small glass ball, which were selective to high ROS levels. The THA also demonstrated changes in electrical resistance (decrease in ΔR: ~ 14.60 kΩ), and stretchability (~ 127% increase in breaking strain), which may be used for screening-based applications. The THA demonstrated remarkable biocompatibility with Caco-2 (colon cancer) cells, alongside ROS scavenging and downregulation of TNF-α and IL-1β. Hence, this platform provides a viable pathway for fabricating bionic and biomimetic actuators for viscous liquid and solid transport.


Highlights:
1 Taking inspiration from the peristaltic motion of gastrointestinal system, an reactive oxygen species (ROS)- and near infrared (NIR)-responsive conductive thermo-hydrogel actuator (THA) was fabricated for viscous fluid and solid transport.
2 Incorporation of PD@PDA nanoparticles provided ROS- and NIR-specific actuation properties to the THA which was confirmed by the directional movement of silicon oil (MR-200) and a small glass ball.
3 Finally, the THA demonstrated ROS scavenging and downregulation of TNF-α and IL-1β, thereby highlighting its effectiveness as a bionic and biomimetic platform.

Keywords

NIR- and ROS-responsive Intestinal peristalsis Thermo-hydrogel actuator Fluorescence on/off ROS-scavenging
Kim, A. Hyeon, Hayeon Jo, Kaustuv Roy, and Sung Young Park. 2026. “NIR and Oxidative Stress-Modulated Intestinal Peristalsis Motion of Tubular Conductive Thermo-Hydrogel Actuator”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (July):427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02257-x.
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