---
_id: '67625'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: 'We introduce a bioinspired microactuator fabricated via a one-step meniscus-guided
    3D nanoprinting technique. This technique directly produces a freestanding three-dimensional
    composite architecture by integrating a rigid nanoparticle framework with a hygroscopic
    polymer matrix in a single, assembly-free process. Inspired by the functional
    integration of rigid and compliant components in insect exoskeletal joint, our
    design synergistically combines load-bearing strength and humidity-driven swelling
    in a single microscale pillar. Comprehensive experiments, including comparative
    control structures and microscopic analysis, elucidated the actuation mechanism:
    the nanoparticle scaffold provides mechanical support while the polymeric phase
    provides volumetric expansion, yielding large reversible elongation under humidity
    with preserved structural integrity. The resulting AuNP–PVP microactuator shows
    humidity-responsive actuation at the microscale, with representative demonstrations
    of repeated humidity cycling and load lifting up to approximately 800 times its
    estimated own weight under the tested conditions. Variant geometries such as hinged
    pillars demonstrate how axial swelling can be converted into bending motion, and
    an optical configuration shows how actuation can modulate reflected light signals.
    This nanoprinting approach provides a simple strategy for constructing bioinspired
    soft microactuators with humidity-responsive deformation and potential applicability
    in microscale sensing, optical modulation, and adaptive microdevices.'
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Seong-Jae
  full_name: Eom, Seong-Jae
  last_name: Eom
- first_name: Vasanthan
  full_name: Devaraj, Vasanthan
  id: '103814'
  last_name: Devaraj
- first_name: Sunghyun
  full_name: Kwak, Sunghyun
  last_name: Kwak
- first_name: Hyeon-Seok
  full_name: Seo, Hyeon-Seok
  last_name: Seo
- first_name: Thomas
  full_name: Zentgraf, Thomas
  id: '30525'
  last_name: Zentgraf
  orcid: 0000-0002-8662-1101
- first_name: Won-Geun
  full_name: Kim, Won-Geun
  last_name: Kim
- first_name: Jong-Min
  full_name: Lee, Jong-Min
  last_name: Lee
citation:
  ama: Eom S-J, Devaraj V, Kwak S, et al. Bioinspired microactuators fabricated via
    one-step meniscus-guided 3D nanoprinting. <i>Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials</i>.
    Published online 2026. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5">10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5</a>
  apa: Eom, S.-J., Devaraj, V., Kwak, S., Seo, H.-S., Zentgraf, T., Kim, W.-G., &#38;
    Lee, J.-M. (2026). Bioinspired microactuators fabricated via one-step meniscus-guided
    3D nanoprinting. <i>Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials</i>. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5">https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5</a>
  bibtex: '@article{Eom_Devaraj_Kwak_Seo_Zentgraf_Kim_Lee_2026, title={Bioinspired
    microactuators fabricated via one-step meniscus-guided 3D nanoprinting}, DOI={<a
    href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5">10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5</a>},
    journal={Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials}, publisher={Springer Science
    and Business Media LLC}, author={Eom, Seong-Jae and Devaraj, Vasanthan and Kwak,
    Sunghyun and Seo, Hyeon-Seok and Zentgraf, Thomas and Kim, Won-Geun and Lee, Jong-Min},
    year={2026} }'
  chicago: Eom, Seong-Jae, Vasanthan Devaraj, Sunghyun Kwak, Hyeon-Seok Seo, Thomas
    Zentgraf, Won-Geun Kim, and Jong-Min Lee. “Bioinspired Microactuators Fabricated
    via One-Step Meniscus-Guided 3D Nanoprinting.” <i>Advanced Composites and Hybrid
    Materials</i>, 2026. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5">https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5</a>.
  ieee: 'S.-J. Eom <i>et al.</i>, “Bioinspired microactuators fabricated via one-step
    meniscus-guided 3D nanoprinting,” <i>Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials</i>,
    2026, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5">10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5</a>.'
  mla: Eom, Seong-Jae, et al. “Bioinspired Microactuators Fabricated via One-Step
    Meniscus-Guided 3D Nanoprinting.” <i>Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials</i>,
    Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2026, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5">10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5</a>.
  short: S.-J. Eom, V. Devaraj, S. Kwak, H.-S. Seo, T. Zentgraf, W.-G. Kim, J.-M.
    Lee, Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials (2026).
date_created: 2026-10-23T12:12:00Z
date_updated: 2026-10-23T12:21:30Z
department:
- _id: '15'
- _id: '230'
- _id: '289'
- _id: '623'
doi: 10.1007/s42114-026-02151-5
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
oa: '1'
publication: Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 2522-0128
  - 2522-0136
publication_status: published
publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: Bioinspired microactuators fabricated via one-step meniscus-guided 3D nanoprinting
type: journal_article
user_id: '30525'
year: '2026'
...