Light-responsive biomaterials: development and applications

Novel biomaterials are beneficial to the growing fields of drug delivery, cell biology, micro-devices, and tissue engineering. With recent advances in chemistry and materials science, light is becoming an attractive option as a method to control biomaterial behavior and properties. In this Feature Article, we explore some of the early and recent advances in the design of light-responsive biomaterials. Particular attention is paid to macromolecular assemblies for drug delivery, multi-component surface patterning for advanced cell assays, and polymer networks that undergo chemical or shape changes upon light exposure. We conclude with some remarks about future directions of the field.