Molecule-Responsive Gels

Responsive Azobenzene-Containing Polymers and Gels

The photoviscosity effect in aqueous solutions of novel poly(4-methacryloyloxyazobenzene-co-N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) (MOAB-DMA) was demonstrated. The observed significant reduction in the zero-shear viscosity upon UVirradiation of MOAB-DMA aqueous solutions was due to the dissociation of the interchain azobenzene aggregates. Such phenomena can be advantageously used in photoswitchable fluidic d...

Preparation of Biomolecule-Responsive Bioconjugate Gels

Thiourea-tagged poly(octadecyl acrylate) gels as fluoride and acetate responsive polymer gels through selective complexation.

Fluoride and acetate-responsive polymer gels were prepared by incorporation of p-nitrophenylthiourea into poly(octadecyl acrylate) gels, and the colours and volumes were changed selectively in the presence of these ions by complexation in THF.

Chemo-responsive, self-oscillating gels that undergo biomimetic communication.

Species ranging from single-cell organisms to social insects can undergo auto-chemotaxis, where the entities move towards a chemo-attractant that they themselves emit. Polymer gels undergoing the self-oscillating Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction exhibit autonomous, periodic pulsations, which produce chemical species collectively referred to as the activator. The diffusion of this activator in...

Tumor marker-responsive behavior of gels prepared by biomolecular imprinting.

We report dynamic glycoprotein recognition of gels prepared by biomolecular imprinting using lectin and antibody molecules as ligands for tumor-specific marker glycoproteins. The glycoprotein-imprinted gels prepared with minute amounts of cross-linkers could dynamically recognize tumor-specific marker glycoproteins by lectin and antibody ligands and induce volume changes according to the glycop...