Learn more about this 2026 Madison Trust Project.
The Madison Muscle: A Polymeric Artificial Muscle Fiber
Presenters
Dr. Wiliam Christopher Hollinsed | hollinwc@jmu.edu Lecturer, Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science and Mathematics
Abstract
This proposal is for the design, development, and synthesis of a new class of polymeric materials which will perform under electrical stimulation in a manner comparable to and in some ways superior to physiological muscle. Funding for this proposal will allow for the preparation of the monomers, polymerization, adjustment and optimization of the structure(s) based on performance and processability as a polymer, preparation of polymer-solvent mixtures which allow for the mobility of the polymer chains and the development of a rational design for a commercial manufacturing process. The program is aimed at the design and development of a synthetic fiber which will contract when exposed to an electric charge. As such, the material will behave as an artificial muscle fiber. The material will contract at the molecular level by the attraction of opposite charges within the molecular chain.
Project
A set of chemical structures have been designed and, in some cases, chemically synthesized which have demonstrated the fundamental attraction between charges at the molecular level. A single preliminary experiment has confirmed this contraction to be successful in solution. These structures need to be incorporated into polymer chains (extremely long head-to-tail sequences of molecular structures) and then tested, optimized, and re-designed (with potential customer input) to produce the best version of the material. The design for the material is as follows: 1. Create a polymer chain (a polymer is just a long chain of atoms connected together) with regular periodic positively charged ions. 2. Incorporate in those chains a structure which can be converted from neutral charge to negative charge. 3. Use electrochemistry to convert the neutral charges to negative charges. Opposite charges in the polymer chain will attract each other. The charges will pair together. The chain will shorten.
Madison Trust 2026 Project Proposal
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Examples of applications for the material: 1. In the actuator field, devices which convert energy into motion are generally composed of metal parts. Our materials are expected to be significantly lighter in weight and more flexible. 2. Aircraft actuators are especially weight sensitive; continuous adjustment of wing shape currently does not exist. Since birds are known to change their wing shape as they fly, applications to wing design could be especially important. 3. Actuators in surgery are now commonly in use, especially for micro-surgery. The application of actuator materials which are not opaque to X-ray imaging techniques could be an important benefit. 4. Tissue scaffolding has been used as a technique for repair of joint injuries however none of the materials used can help with motion in the interim between injury and healing. These materials may play a significant role in improving this area. We have several experimental approaches to verifying that the concept is valid and the polymer, when made, will contract: • We have carried out computational chemistry on the monomer in both the extended and contracted forms. These calculations required several days on a university supercomputer. They showed the material extended in its mono-ionic form and contracted in the ion-pair form. • We carried out a 1-D (1-dimensional) Nuclear Overhauser Effect experiment on the extended form in solution and the ion-pair form. This experiment is sensitive to the physical distance between atoms in a molecule. Distances around 5 angstroms are very sensitive to the effect, but larger distances are not. Our ion paired form showed significant effects while the extended form did not. We are working toward a single molecule force microscopy experiment which will allow us to measure both the actual distance of contraction on a single molecule as well as the actual force of contraction in the molecule.
Our short-term goal (less than 1 year) is to reach the “proof-of-concept" stage by demonstrating a material which will contract under appropriate stimulation.
Benefit to JMU
Revenue An Intellectual Property Disclosure has been submitted to James Madison University. REDI has submitted this to an IP firm for evaluation. The suggestion from this report was that the appropriate place for the technology was for applications in treatment of musculoskeletal conditions currently referred to as the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine field. A current projection for the market in this space is $90 billion by 2030. Actual market numbers were $35.5 billion in 2024 and $41.4 billion in 2025, according to Grand View Research. Even entry into a small portion of this market space can generate significant revenue for the University.
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Public Relations The success in providing a new material ("The Madison Muscle") of value to society arising from University research will benefit the reputation of the university in a variety of ways. Education In addition we are interested in promoting entrepreneurial thinking in students by providing a real world case in which the work is aimed at addressing societal needs using scientific knowledge and techniques. We anticipate that research with the students will prepare many of them to go on to graduate school in the sciences or directly into the workforce where there will be new and important challenges to address.
Projected Budget
Travel:
$3,000
Chemicals and materials:
$5,000
Specialized glassware:
$7,500
Circulating baths/pumps:
$6,500
Electrochemical testing equipment:
$3,000
Total:
$25,000
The funds will be needed for chemicals and materials, (~$5,000) specialized glassware to allow temperature controlled (low temperature) polymerization, (~$7,500), controlled circulating baths and circulating pumps (~$6,500), electrochemical testing equipment ($3,000), Travel to meetings for PI and students ($3,000). Total $25,000. With partial funding, progress toward completion of the project would be significantly slower and some aspects would have to wait for other funding sources to supply the equipment and hardware needed.
Project Team
William Christopher Hollinsed, PhD - Lecturer and Principal Investigator, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (25 years of experience in chemical industry including chemical manufacturing research and development, 4 years at JMU conducting independent research. Mentored about 25 students on this project since summer 2022). Students currently associated with the program: Mikaela Baum, Osmond Reindorf Malm, Sam Robinson, John Spencer, Maddie McCay, Lily Fielek, Brynne McHenry, Briana Johnson.
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