Biologically inspired structural color hydrogels with magnetic- and photothermal-controlled self-healable abilities were fabricated by integrating magnetic-responsive photonic crystals into gelatin hydrogels. The self-healable ability of the hydrogel systems was derived from the magnetic response and light-absorbing abilities of the magnetic nanoparticles. When the hydrogels deteriorate or get damaged, magnetic nanoparticles could absorb heat under near-infrared irradiation and external magnetic fields, which stimulates phase transformation in the hydrogels to fill or heal the hydrogels. In addition, the hydrogel systems were demonstrated with high biocompatibility and plasticity. These features of magnetic self-healable structural color hydrogels make them have broad application prospects in the fields of biological engineering and cell engineering.
Keywords: colloidal crystal; hydrogel; magnetic nanoparticle; self-healable; structural color.