title: Tough supersoft sponge fibers with tunable stiffness from a DNA self-assembly technique.
abstract: Tough and soft: Highly porous, spongelike materials self-assemble by calcium ion condensation of DNA-wrapped carbon nanotubes (SWNTs-DNA; see picture, IL = ionic liquid). The toughness, modulus, and swellability of the electrically conductive sponges can be tuned by controlling the density and strength of interfiber junctions. The sponges have compliances similar to the softest natural tissue, while robust interfiber junctions give high toughness.
authors.affiliation: Center for Bio-Artificial Muscle, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Kee
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Su Ryon
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.forename: Sung-Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Insuk
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Ju-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Tong Mook
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sun I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Philip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Whitten
authors.forename: Gordon G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Spinks
authors.forename: Seon Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012474:Salmon / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D052578:Ionic Liquids; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D004247:DNA; D002118:Calcium