Tubular structures in our body such as blood vessels (veins, arteries) as well as the intestinal tract have a common structural motif, which is the presence of multiple concentric layers, with each layer having distinct composition. Due to the multiple layers, these tubes have the ability to respond to their environment: for example, the lumen of blood vessels can shrink or expand, thereby regulating flow rate and blood pressure. Attempts to synthesize such responsive tubes using polymer gels have been limited, and typically involve complex fabrication techniques. Here, we report a facile strategy that utilizes commercially available reagents for the fabrication of tubes where the wall is composed of multiple polymeric layers. This technique utilizes biocompatible polymers and allows for precise control over individual layer thickness and composition. Tubes synthesized in this manner are robust and flexible. Moreover, by incorporating stimuli-responsive polymers into distinct regions of these tubes, we can induce changes in tube shape by external stimuli such as pH or temperature. In one such example, the tube diameter narrows or expands over a particular segment thus mimicking vasoconstriction and dilation in blood vessels. In a second example, a tube that is initially a straight segment systematically undergoes bending when the stimulus is applied. The reasons for such changes in shape will be discussed in this talk.

Blood-vessel-like polymer tubes that can morph their diameter and shape in response to stimuli

255th National Meeting (2018)

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