Reversibly Cross-Linkable Thermoresponsive Self-Folding Hydrogel Films

This paper reports a novel approach for the design of self-folding films using reversibly cross-linkable thermoresponsive polymers with coumarin groups: poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-7-(2-methacryloyloxyethoxy)-4-methylcoumarin). We demonstrated that, depending on the structure of the films and the conditions of cross-linking/de-cross-linking, one can fabricate a variety of different forms ranging from simple tubes to complex centipede-like structures. The demonstrated approach opens new perspectives for the design of 3D self-assembling materials.