| 72 | Inventor | IN | Weil, Tanja, 55124 Mainz, DE; Harvey, Sean, 55128 Mainz, DE; Tommaso, Marchesi D'Alvise, 55131 Mainz, DE; Synatschke, Christopher, 65187 Wiesbaden, DE; Fytas, Georg, 55118 Mainz, DE; Graczykowski, Bartlomiej, Zalasewo, PL; Pochylski, Mikolaj, Poznan, PL; Gapinski, Jacek, Poznan, PL; Vasileiadis, Thomas, Poznan, PL |
| 57 | Abstract | AB | The present invention relates in a first aspect to a method for stimulus-sensitive actuation of nanomembranes made of or consisting of a stimulus-sensitive polymeric material, in particular polycatecholamine nanomembranes, comprising at least the following steps: a) providing a stimulus-sensitive nanomembrane on a support; b) exposing the nanomembrane to the stimulus for a predetermined time sufficient to induce a conformational change of said nanomembrane; c) optionally inducing reversal of said conformational change by removing the stimulus; wherein the stimulus is selected from the group consisting of electric or magnetic fields, electromagnetic irradiation, in particular visible light, change of temperature, air pressure and/or change of humidity or moisture below or above a threshold level. A further aspect of the invention relates to a device, in particular a nano- or microdevice, comprising at least the following components: - a stimulus-sensitive nanomembrane; - a support of a stimulus-insensitive material on which the nanomembrane is provided; means for exposing said stimulus-sensitive nanomembrane to a stimulus selected from the group consisting of electric or magnetic fields, electromagnetic irradiation, in particular visible light, change of temperature, air pressure and/or change of humidity or moisture below or above a threshold level. In particular, said device may be selected from the group comprising sensors, valves, in particular light or moisture valves, micromanipulators, actuators for remote control, or artificial muscles. In more specific embodiments of both aspects, the stimulus-sensitive polymeric material may represent a homopolymer or heteropolymer of monomers selected from catecholamines, in particular from the group comprising dopamine, L and D enantiomers of norepinephrine, L and D enantiomers of epinephrine, L and D enantiomers of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, and aminotyrosine. |
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