Design of nano- and micro-structured molecule-responsive hydrogels

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have attracted considerable attention for use as smart materials, such as in molecular sensors and drug delivery systems. With a focus on their crosslinking density, we have prepared various molecule-responsive hydrogels that undergo volume changes in response to target molecules based on the association/dissociation of molecular complexes that act as crosslinkers. Recent developments in polymerization techniques enabled us to design various types of polymer nanomaterials. This focus review provides a short overview of our recent studies on the nano-and micro-structured molecule-responsive hydrogels prepared using various polymerization techniques, such as photopolymerization, surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization, and soap-free emulsion polymerization. The nano-and micro-structured molecule-responsive hydrogels showed not only rapid swelling/shrinkage in response to a target molecule owing to their large surface area but also smart functions, such as autonomous molecule-responsive microchannel flow regulation and highly sensitive detection of a target molecule. The smart functions of nano-and micro-structured molecule-responsive hydrogels can provide tools for constructing, for example, sensors, microdevices and smart biomaterials.

Multiphoton Laser Fabrication of Hybrid Photo-Activable Biomaterials

“…There are, therefore, plenty of possibilities to develop biomimetic responsive microstructures. The literature is vast: we will provide only recent examples on 3D photo-polymerized hydrogels, leaving more exhaustive analysis to previous reviews [ 133 , 134 , 135 ].…”

Manipulating cell fate: dynamic control of cell behaviors on functional platforms

“…Recently, the rapid growth of materials science and fabrication techniques has considerably advanced biological research by establishing a rich toolbox of functional biomaterials with precise and switchable features. [49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56] The platforms combined with various biomolecules and stimuli-responsive motifs have sufficiently progressed to emulate the dynamic nature of the ECM. 57,58 Additionally, new engineering technologies are developed to fabricate biomaterials with precise topographical features and spatial ligand organization, making it possible to capture the multiscale aspects of the cell microenvironment at cellular and subcellular resolution.…”

Hydrogel-Based Biosensors for Effective Therapeutics

“…Wichterle et al, in the 1960s, designed a hydrophilic gel (hydrogel) for the first time with the motive of designing a 3D polymer network to utilize in the human body [18]. These immense water-rich bodies of hydrogels easily adapt to the microenvironment due to the similarities in tissue-like structure, and their use in a significant dynamic range is feasible, as seen in Figure 1 [19][20][21][22]. Furthermore, hydrogels have surfaced as excellent sensory systems due to their high Gels 2023, 9, 545 2 of 18 biocompatibility and variability which eases the tuning of gel chemistry [23].…”