In a stunning breakthrough, a research team from IIT Bhilai comprising Bhanendra Sahu, Nishikanta Singh, Sudipta Paul and Dr Sanjib Banerjee, have developed next-generation 4D-printed smart polymer materials that can change shape in response to temperature, paving the way for a new era of medical devices and implants. These ‘intelligent’ materials can fold, expand, or contract on demand, offering unprecedented possibilities for minimally invasive surgeries, targeted drug delivery, and implantable therapeutic devices. This could lead to innovations like injectable bio-robots, and adaptive prosthetics that respond to body heat.

 

This breakthrough promises to make waves in global biomedical research, merging polymer science, robotics, and medicine to create intelligent materials that could save lives, reduce surgical risks, and redefine the limits of human treatment. The summary of the research states that the development of 4D-printed soft active material (SAM) with programmable shape transformations and multifunctional properties remains a critical challenge for soft active materials. The SAM demonstrated excellent 3D printing, enabling the fabrication of complex 3D architectures with pre-designed infill patterns.

 

The SAM-based robotic actuator successfully lifted weights, showcasing its potential for soft robotics applications. The integration of shape-memory behaviour with functional applications highlights the potential of this smart material in sustainable environmental technologies and advanced safety systems. These findings highlight the versatility of SAM for 4D-printed adaptive systems, offering promising applications in biomedical engineering, and intelligent actuators.