Bio‐inspired Structure‐editing Fluorescent Hydrogel Actuators for Environment‐interactive Information Encryption

Abstract

Many living organisms have the superb structure-editing capacity for better adaptation in dynamic environments over the course of their life cycle. However, it's still challenging to replicate such natural structure-editing capacity into artificial hydrogel actuating systems for enhancing environment-interactive functions. Herein, we learn from the metamorphosis development of glowing octopus to construct proof-ofconcept fluorescent hydrogel actuators with life-like structure-editing capacity by developing a universal stepwise inside-out growth strategy. These actuators could perform origami-like 3D shape deformation and also enable the postnatal growth of new structures to adapt additional actuating states for different visual information delivery by using different environment keys (e.g., temperature, pH). This study opens previously unidentified-avenues of bio-inspired hydrogel actuators/robotics and extends the potential uses for environment-interactive information encryption.

3D shape morphing of stimuli-responsive composite hydrogels

“…Since the information written by red fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) is easily encrypted and decrypted through the wavelengthdependent redlight/non-fluorescence transition of Eu-gel, various shape morphing and corresponding visual information can be conveyed by employing different environmental stimuli. 359 Furthermore, due to the contrary pH-responsiveness of cationic hydrogels and anionic hydrogels, two-way shape-morphable bilayer structures can be realized. Kumar et al constructed a bilayer structure consisting of the cationic CS hydrogel and the Fig.…”

“…Reproduced with permission. 359 Copyrights 2023, Wiley-VCH. (c) The pH-tunable two-way bending behavior of composite hydrogel is realized via integrating the anionic carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) layer and the cationic chitosan layer.…”