Photo-responsive photonic hydrogel: in situ manipulation and monitoring of cell scaffold stiffness

Abstract

Building scaffolds with heterogeneous and reconfigurable mechanical properties have been recognized as the key to recapitulate the natural extracellular microenvironments for in-vitro cell incubation systems. However, in-situ changing and tracking...

Patterning meets gels: Advances in engineering functional gels at micro/nanoscales for soft devices

“…Moreover, Gu group induced reversible crosslinking in a coumarin-containing gel network filled with photonic silica nanoparticles, in which the stiffness change in the network could be monitored by the altered colors. 102 In addition, Chen et al developed an ice-templated photopatterning approach to generate hydrogels with micropatterned porosity in a rewritable fashion, which employed hydrogel networks with a dynamic disulfide crosslinker. When the hydrogel was frozen, the polymer networks were deformed by the ice microcrystals formed inside, followed by photoactivated disulfide exchange to fix the networks with large pores.…”

“…As proof‐of ‐concept, the authors demonstrated structural color‐encrypted holograms through transforming different colors into specific dithering patterns (Figure 10B). Moreover, Gu group induced reversible crosslinking in a coumarin‐containing gel network filled with photonic silica nanoparticles, in which the stiffness change in the network could be monitored by the altered colors 102 . In addition, Chen et al developed an ice‐templated photopatterning approach to generate hydrogels with micropatterned porosity in a rewritable fashion, which employed hydrogel networks with a dynamic disulfide crosslinker.…”

Controlling Properties and Functions of Polymer Gels Using Photochemical Reactions

“…Usually, light with a longer wavelength induces dimerization, while light with a shorter wavelength induces reversion. Typical examples are the [2+2] cycloaddition of cinnamates, [ 58 ] coumarins, [ 59,60 ] maleimide, [ 61 ] and the [4+4] cycloaddition of anthracene. [ 62 ] These reactions do not require catalysts, and can occur in films, solution, and gels.…”

Voltage-tunable elastomer composites that use shape instabilities for rapid structural color changes

“…Consequently, structurally colored materials can be made from many different component materials, such as natural polymers or responsive materials. 1,2 This versatility has enabled the fabrication of structurally colored materials that can change colors in response to external stimuli, such as humidity, 3 solvent, 3,4 light, [5][6][7] temperature, 8,9 mechanical force, [10][11][12] and magnetic 13 and electric fields. 14 The wide range of tuning mechanisms makes structurally colored materials potentially useful for sensors, displays, camouflage, and anticounterfeiting measures.…”