Shape Memory Hydrogels with Simultaneously Switchable Fluorescence Behavior

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 39; no. 12; pp. e1800130 - n/a
• Main Authors: Jian, Yu‐kun, Le, Xiao‐xia, Zhang, Yu‐chong, Lu, Wei, Wang, Li, Zheng, Jing, Zhang, Jia‐wei, Huang, You‐ju, Chen, Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2018
• Subjects: Biodegradable materials; Chitosan; Crosslinking; Dismantling; Fluorescence; Fluoroscopic imaging; Hydrogels; Information storage; Microcrystals; Molecular chains; pH effects; pH‐responsive; Shape effects; Shape memory; shape memory hydrogels; switchable fluorescence; chitosan; microcrystals; switchable fluorescence; pH-responsive; shape memory hydrogels
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201800130

Realization of shape memory process in polymeric hydrogels at ambient condition is a significant development to shape memory materials. The sound understanding of the dynamic shape memory process is fundamentally important but limited. Here, a novel shape memory hydrogel with simultaneously switchable fluorescence behavior is developed. The hydrogel is prepared by incorporating a pH‐responsive fluorescent molecule, perylene tetracarboxylic acid, into chitosan‐based hydrogel, and the assembly and disassembly of chitosan chains into microcrystals upon the trigger of pH are applied as reversible crosslinks to achieve shape memory effect. Therefore, the formation and disassociation of microcrystalline chitosan, and the switchable fluorescence performance happen concurrently, which bring convenience to monitoring the shape memory process by fluorescent imaging. Moreover, the erasable fluorescence behavior also gives the hydrogel potential applications in information storage. Shape memory hydrogels with simultaneously switchable fluorescence behavior are fabricated. The hydrogel exhibits pH‐responsive shape memory properties based on the formation of chitosan microcrystalline, and switchable fluorescence performance due to the disaggregation of perylene tetracarboxylic acid moieties upon the trigger of pH, which will bring convenience to monitoring the shape memory process by fluorescent imaging.