Porous electroactive hydrogels and uses thereof

A porous electroactive hydrogel, said hydrogel comprising a polyelectrolyte hydrogel monomer comprising an acrylate group, and a polydisperse distribution of pores throughout the hydrogel, wherein said pores have a radius of about 0.5 micrometers to about 10 micrometers, and wherein said hydrogel bends at an angle of greater than about 45 degrees in the presence of an electric field as compared to the bending of the hydrogel in the absence of said electric field, wherein said pores in said hydrogel are prepared by free radical polymerization of the polyelectrolyte monomer in an emulsion.