Actuator comprising an innervated liquid crystal elastomer

An actuator comprising:

• a 3D printed architecture comprising a filament having a core-shell structure including a shell comprising a liquid crystal elastomer surrounding a core configured to induce a nematic-to-isotropic transition of the liquid crystal elastomer, a director of the liquid crystal elastomer being aligned with a longitudinal axis of the filament,
• wherein, when the nematic-to-isotropic transition of the liquid crystal elastomer is induced, the director loses alignment and the 3D printed architecture is actuated.

An actuation method, the actuation method comprising:

• providing a 3D printed architecture comprising a filament having a core-shell structure, where the core-shell structure includes a shell comprising a liquid crystal elastomer surrounding a core configured to induce a nematic-to-isotropic transition of the liquid crystal elastomer, and where a director of the liquid crystal elastomer is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the filament;
• inducing the nematic-to-isotropic transition of the liquid crystal elastomer, whereby alignment of the director is lost, thereby actuating the 3D printed architecture.