Enzyme‐Programmable Microgel Lasers for Information Encoding and Anti‐Counterfeiting

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 34; no. 10; pp. e2107809 - n/a
• Main Authors: Gong, Xuerui, Qiao, Zhen, Liao, Yikai, Zhu, Song, Shi, Lei, Kim, Munho, Chen, Yu‐Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.03.2022
• Subjects: anti‐counterfeiting; Biocompatible Materials; biolasers; Biomedical materials; Biomolecules; Counterfeiting; Droplets; Enzymes; enzyme‐responsive hydrogels; Hydrogels; laser encoding; Lasers; Lasing; Microgels; microlaser arrays; Spectral sensitivity; Wavelengths; enzyme-responsive hydrogels; microlaser arrays; anti-counterfeiting; biolasers; laser encoding
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202107809

Microscale laser emissions have emerged as a promising approach for information encoding and anti‐counterfeiting for their feature‐rich spectra and high sensitivity to the surrounding environment. Compared with artificial materials, natural responsive biomaterials enable a higher level of complexity and versatile ways for tailoring optical responses. However, precise control of lasing wavelengths and spatial locations with biomolecules remains a huge challenge. Here, a biologically programmable laser, in which the lasing can be manipulated by biomolecular activities at the nanoscale, is developed. Tunable lasing wavelengths are achieved by exploiting the swelling properties of enzyme‐responsive hydrogel droplets in a Fabry–Pérot microcavity. Both experimental and theoretical means demonstrate that inner 3D network structures and external curvature of the hydrogel droplets lead to different lasing thresholds and resonance wavelengths. Finally, inkjet‐printed multiwavelength laser encoding and anti‐counterfeiting are showcased under different scalabilities and environments. Hyperspectral laser images are utilized as an advanced feature for a higher level of security. The biologically encoded laser will provide a new insight into the development of biosynthetic and bioprogrammable laser devices, offering new opportunities for secure communication and smart sensing. Inspired by the natural responsivity of active biomaterials, laser information encoding is demonstrated by exploiting enzyme‐bioactive hydrogel materials confined in a microcavity. Tunable lasing wavelengths are achieved by manipulating the biological activity and nanostructures in hydrogel droplets. This study represents the first development of a biologically controlled laser for optical information applications.