Swelling-Induced Chromotropism of Bionanocomposite Hydrogel Beads

Monodispersed gelatin hydrogel beads containing smectite with adsorbed cyanine dye exhibit chromotropic responses to compression and swelling/deswelling by solvent. Photoluminescence color of the beads changes by swelling in water (blue) and deswelling in ethanol (purple) reversibly. The forces generated by swelling/deswelling are thought to induce the transition between the J-aggregate and the monomer of cyanine dye adsorbed on smectite, giving the photoluminescent color changes.