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Reversible Modulation of Elasticity in Fluoroazobenzene-Containing Hydrogels Using Green and Blue Light.

Fangli Zhao1, Aurelio Bonasera1, Ulrich Nöchel2

  • 1Department of Chemistry and IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|December 2, 2017
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Summary

This study introduces visible-light-activated ortho-fluoroazobenzene switches into hydrogels, enabling reversible tuning of their mechanical properties. This overcomes UV light limitations for advanced biomedical applications.

Keywords:
azobenzeneshydrogelsphotodynamic materialsvisible light

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Soft Matter Physics

Background:

  • Hydrogels are versatile soft materials with numerous biomedical applications.
  • Incorporating molecular switches into hydrogels allows for dynamic control over their properties.
  • Current light-activated hydrogels often rely on UV light, posing limitations due to its damaging nature and poor tissue penetration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a hydrogel system activated by visible light, overcoming the drawbacks of UV-based systems.
  • To integrate ortho-fluoroazobenzene switches into a hydrophilic network for light-responsive mechanical tuning.
  • To investigate the relationship between molecular photoisomerization and macroscopic changes in hydrogel mechanics.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of a hydrophilic hydrogel network functionalized with ortho-fluoroazobenzene photochromic switches.
  • Characterization of the hydrogel's mechanical properties (elastic modulus) under visible light irradiation (green or blue light).
  • Analysis of the photoisomerization behavior of the azobenzene moieties and its correlation with mechanical changes.

Main Results:

  • The developed hydrogel system demonstrated reversible mechanical property modulation upon exposure to visible light.
  • Photoisomerization of the incorporated ortho-fluoroazobenzene switches was confirmed.
  • The observed macroscopic mechanical changes were attributed to the differing aggregation tendencies of the E and Z azobenzene isomers.

Conclusions:

  • Visible light-activated hydrogels offer a safer and more versatile alternative to UV-activated systems for biomedical applications.
  • The incorporation of ortho-fluoroazobenzene switches provides a mechanism for precise, light-controlled tuning of hydrogel mechanics.
  • This work paves the way for advanced applications requiring dynamic and spatially controlled soft materials.