Live-shaping of hydrogel thin films with light.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42014393.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-71438-4 and PMC identifier 13100152.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Light-responsive hydrogels are attractive materials for mimicking dynamic microstructures in nature, providing platform for tunable devices in photonics, sensing, and biomedicine. However, these systems often suffer from limited spatial resolution and slow response times, restricting their utility in high-speed or high-precision applications. Here, we present a light-responsive hydrogel thin film platform capable of rapid, reconfigurable surface modulation with sub-micron spatial resolution and actuation frequencies up to 2 Hz. The system leverages photoswitchable host-guest interactions to induce reversible contraction-expansion in response to patterned illumination. Dual-wavelength control enables the generation of dynamic, migrating surface features capable of transporting micro-objects in real time. The approach is further extended to free-standing films, demonstrating functionality in laser beam steering. Additionally, surface patterns can be stabilized by drying and erased by humidity, offering a route to rewritable sensor tags.