UV‐Induced Photopatterning of the Thermoresponsive Properties of a Poly(ethylene glycol)methylether acrylate‐co‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel

Photopatterning offers a versatile and precise approach for modifying surface properties, making it a valuable technique in material design. Recent research demonstrates that polymer swelling can significantly enhance photodegradation, facilitating topographical patterning. Herein, this concept in s...

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Main Authors: Qian‐Pu Cheng, Nikolaj K. Mandsberg, Pavel A. Levkin, Shan‐hui Hsu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-06-01
Series:Small Structures
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202400560
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author Qian‐Pu Cheng
Nikolaj K. Mandsberg
Pavel A. Levkin
Shan‐hui Hsu
author_facet Qian‐Pu Cheng
Nikolaj K. Mandsberg
Pavel A. Levkin
Shan‐hui Hsu
author_sort Qian‐Pu Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Photopatterning offers a versatile and precise approach for modifying surface properties, making it a valuable technique in material design. Recent research demonstrates that polymer swelling can significantly enhance photodegradation, facilitating topographical patterning. Herein, this concept in stimuli‐responsive hydrogels is explored, focusing on the thermoresponsive poly(ethylene glycol) methylether acrylate‐co‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PPEGA–PNIPAM) hydrogel. Surprisingly, it is observed that UV exposure not only partially degrades the hydrogel but also diminishes its thermal responsiveness. This effect enables selective deactivation of responsive properties of the PPEGA–PNIPAM, allowing for spatially defined variations in thermomechanical behavior through photolithography. By using these spatial differences, the hydrogel is programmatically transformed into a thermoresponsive actuator via a single‐step photopatterning process, demonstrating a potential application of UV‐induced change of thermoresponsiveness. Furthermore, incorporating gelatin methacrylate enhances biocompatibility, suggesting new possibilities for developing thermoresponsive bioactuators. Thus, the results demonstrate the potential of UV‐induced modulation of stimuli‐responsive properties of hydrogels and present new opportunities for creating multifunctional materials with tailored properties.
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spelling doaj-art-995ee652095e4fb286a00c0c76abbd962025-08-20T03:26:00ZengWiley-VCHSmall Structures2688-40622025-06-0166n/an/a10.1002/sstr.202400560UV‐Induced Photopatterning of the Thermoresponsive Properties of a Poly(ethylene glycol)methylether acrylate‐co‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) HydrogelQian‐Pu Cheng0Nikolaj K. Mandsberg1Pavel A. Levkin2Shan‐hui Hsu3Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering National Taiwan University No. 1, Sec. 4 Roosevelt Road Taipei 10617 Taiwan, R.O.C.Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems‐Functional Molecular systems (IBCS‐FMS) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Kaiserstraße 12 76131 Karlsruhe GermanyInstitute of Biological and Chemical Systems‐Functional Molecular systems (IBCS‐FMS) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Kaiserstraße 12 76131 Karlsruhe GermanyInstitute of Polymer Science and Engineering National Taiwan University No. 1, Sec. 4 Roosevelt Road Taipei 10617 Taiwan, R.O.C.Photopatterning offers a versatile and precise approach for modifying surface properties, making it a valuable technique in material design. Recent research demonstrates that polymer swelling can significantly enhance photodegradation, facilitating topographical patterning. Herein, this concept in stimuli‐responsive hydrogels is explored, focusing on the thermoresponsive poly(ethylene glycol) methylether acrylate‐co‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PPEGA–PNIPAM) hydrogel. Surprisingly, it is observed that UV exposure not only partially degrades the hydrogel but also diminishes its thermal responsiveness. This effect enables selective deactivation of responsive properties of the PPEGA–PNIPAM, allowing for spatially defined variations in thermomechanical behavior through photolithography. By using these spatial differences, the hydrogel is programmatically transformed into a thermoresponsive actuator via a single‐step photopatterning process, demonstrating a potential application of UV‐induced change of thermoresponsiveness. Furthermore, incorporating gelatin methacrylate enhances biocompatibility, suggesting new possibilities for developing thermoresponsive bioactuators. Thus, the results demonstrate the potential of UV‐induced modulation of stimuli‐responsive properties of hydrogels and present new opportunities for creating multifunctional materials with tailored properties.https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202400560biocompatible actuatorsphotodegradationsphotoresponsive hydrogelsprogrammable actuatorsthermoresponsive hydrogels
spellingShingle Qian‐Pu Cheng
Nikolaj K. Mandsberg
Pavel A. Levkin
Shan‐hui Hsu
UV‐Induced Photopatterning of the Thermoresponsive Properties of a Poly(ethylene glycol)methylether acrylate‐co‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel
Small Structures
biocompatible actuators
photodegradations
photoresponsive hydrogels
programmable actuators
thermoresponsive hydrogels
title UV‐Induced Photopatterning of the Thermoresponsive Properties of a Poly(ethylene glycol)methylether acrylate‐co‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel
title_full UV‐Induced Photopatterning of the Thermoresponsive Properties of a Poly(ethylene glycol)methylether acrylate‐co‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel
title_fullStr UV‐Induced Photopatterning of the Thermoresponsive Properties of a Poly(ethylene glycol)methylether acrylate‐co‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel
title_full_unstemmed UV‐Induced Photopatterning of the Thermoresponsive Properties of a Poly(ethylene glycol)methylether acrylate‐co‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel
title_short UV‐Induced Photopatterning of the Thermoresponsive Properties of a Poly(ethylene glycol)methylether acrylate‐co‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel
title_sort uv induced photopatterning of the thermoresponsive properties of a poly ethylene glycol methylether acrylate co poly n isopropylacrylamide hydrogel
topic biocompatible actuators
photodegradations
photoresponsive hydrogels
programmable actuators
thermoresponsive hydrogels
url https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202400560
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AT shanhuihsu uvinducedphotopatterningofthethermoresponsivepropertiesofapolyethyleneglycolmethyletheracrylatecopolynisopropylacrylamidehydrogel