Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Optical Fiber Actuator for In Vivo Endoscopic Navigation and Laser Ablation Therapy
Abstract
Abstract Photothermal‐responsive liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) face critical barriers in biomedical applications: phase transition temperatures exceeding 80 °C risk thermal injury, and free‐space optical actuation fails in confined spaces. Here, a thiol‐ene crosslinked LCE is developed with a biocompatible phase transition temperature (37.6 °C), enabling safe actuation within biological tissues. Through coaxial extrusion, the fabrication of waveguide‐structured LCE optical fibers is pioneered, achieving ultralow optical loss (0.76 dB cm −1 ) and enabling long‐range light transmission and remote actuation via silica optical fiber coupling. Under 808 nm laser stimulation (375 mW), these LCE optical fibers generate 30% contraction strain in 23 s, maintaining maximum surface temperature < 48 °C. Integrated into an endoscopic system, LCE optical fibers replaced rigid mechanical components. Ex vivo characterization reveals their omnidirectional bending capability (94° angular range), while in vivo trials on live rats and rabbits validate their operational functionality in anatomical environments, enabling hemorrhage detection and laser‐steered tumor ablation via controlled navigation. Histopathological analysis confirms no thermal damage at fiber‐tissue interfaces. This work establishes biocompatible LCE optical fibers as a photonic platform integrating photonic‐driven soft actuation and tissue‐compliant adaptability, enabling mechanically safe interventions in confined anatomical environments.
Article Details
Authors (9)
JiaJia Luo
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/Institute of Polymers and Energy Chemistry (IPEC)/Film Energy Chemistry For Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory (FEC) Nanchang University Nanchang China
Haojun Liu
State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices Guangdong Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Special Optical Fiber Materials and Devices Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fiber Laser Materials and Applied Techniques South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 China
Yongcheng He
Nuo Li
Tanxi Wang
State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices Guangdong Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Special Optical Fiber Materials and Devices Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fiber Laser Materials and Applied Techniques South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 China
Zhongqiang Yang
Qianyi Guo
Flexible Photonic Chip International Innovation Center of Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macao Greater Bay Area Future Institute of Technology School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering South China Normal University Guangzhou China
Jiulin Gan
State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices School of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou China
Zhongmin Yang