Photoresponsive microgels and their applications: a review

Photoresponsive microgels have gained significant importance in modern-day scientific research due to their fascinating properties and potential applications in various fields. This review presents the reported schemes for their synthesis and design, mechanism of photoresponsiveness, characterization and current applications. These microgels are intelligent polymeric materials that show a swift response (swelling/deswelling) upon irradiation with light due to the specific photoresponsive moieties incorporated in their network. These photoresponsive microgels and their hybrids are biocompatible, functional, less toxic and can be characterized using a number of characterization techniques. The intelligent behavior of these microgels makes them suitable candidates for use in drug delivery and release, tissue engineering, actuators and sensors, adaptive surfaces and smart coatings, catalysis, environmental science, photonic devices and many other fields. This overview highlights current developments in this specific area and potential directions for future study.