Directional Vaporization‐Driven Alignment in Printable Muscle‐Mimetic Anisotropic Protein Materials

Abstract Biomimetic materials hold significant potential for a wide range of applications, yet developing straightforward and versatile methods to create muscle‐mimetic, high‐performance protein materials with anisotropic properties remains a major challenge. In this study, a simple and general strategy is presented for protein alignment driven by directional airflow, enabling the design of printable, muscle‐mimetic anisotropic proteins. By utilizing directional airflow during hydrogel drying in combination with rapid photochemistry, protein molecules align efficiently in a single direction. Similar to natural muscle, the mechanical properties of these materials can be further enhanced through mechanical training, achieving remarkable mechanical strength of up to ≈8 MPa at 600% strain and an anisotropy factor of 3.0. This fabrication process is compatible with conventional printing techniques, allowing the creation of complex structures with controlled anisotropy and tailored mechanical properties. Notably, these anisotropic protein materials exhibit biomimetic rapid actuation (≈6 s) and adaptability under complex physiological conditions. Their potential is demonstrated with proof‐of‐concept applications as artificial grippers and vessel dilators, which remain stable for months but degrade rapidly within hours after enzymatic treatment post‐therapy. This directional‐airflow‐driven method, along with the resulting high‐performance protein materials, offers promising implications for a wide range of fields, from medical devices to adaptive biomimetic technologies.