Yasuhiro Ishida

TL;DR: A hydrogel actuator that operates by modulating its anisotropic electrostatics in response to changes of electrostatic permittivity associated with a lower critical solution temperature transition is shown.

TL;DR: A composite hydrogel with anisotropic mechanical properties dominated by electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged unilamellar titanate nanosheets embedded within it is described, anticipating that the concept of embedding an isotropic repulsive electrostatics within a composite material, inspired by articular cartilage, will open up new possibilities for developing soft materials with unusual functions.

TL;DR: This Minireview highlights the use and perspectives of anisotropic hydrogels, particularly focusing on their preparation, structures, and applications, which play essential roles in biological systems to exhibit particular functions.

TL;DR: This paper presents a strategy to produce nanocomposites with highly ordered layered structures using shear-flow-induced alignment of two-dimensional nanosheets at an immiscible hydrogel/oil interface, and considers that it could be applied to a wide range of structural composites and lead to the development of high-performance composites.

TL;DR: It is reported that GroEL and T.th cpn can also enfold CdS semiconductor nanoparticles, giving them high thermal and chemical stability in aqueous media and expected that integration of such biological mechanisms into materials science will open a door to conceptually new bioresponsive devices.