Thermo- and photo-responsive composite hydrogels with programmed deformations

J Mater Chem B. 2019 Mar 14;7(10):1674-1678. doi: 10.1039/c8tb02896f. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Abstract

Self-shaping hydrogels have received increasing attention due to their promising applications in soft robotics and biomedical fields. Here we report the fabrication of photo- and thermo-responsive composite hydrogels with heterogeneous structures and corresponding programmed deformations under stimulation. These composite gels were developed by photolithographic polymerization to form patterned non-responsive polyacrylamide gels and then thermal polymerization to form responsive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) gels containing photo-thermal agents in the interspace between the preformed non-responsive gels. Upon heating or near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, the composite hydrogels with heterogeneous structures showed programmed bending, folding, and twisting deformations. Localized actuation or step-wise deformations were achieved by selective or sequential irradiations of NIR light on the specific regions of the composite hydrogels. This strategy should be suitable for other photo-responsive hydrogels with potential applications in diverse fields.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*

Substances

  • Hydrogels