Stimuli-responsive surfaces hydrogels

Lipid-bilayer membranes on solid substrates are often used as cell-surface models connecting biological and artificial materials. They can be placed either directly on solids or on ultrathin polymer supports, such as brushes or hydrogels, which mimic the extracellular matrix. A similar approach has been applied to polymer membranes with the advantage of tunable thickness, easier chemical modifications to allow stimulus responsiveness, or the attachment of active molecules by incorporation of reactive end groups. In addition, incorporated proteins have lower interactions with the support because of the increased membrane thickness, and therefore behave as in a natural environment. ... 

Multiple islands arranged on hemisphere. Each island houses a tunable liquid microlens formed by a curved water-to-oU interface pinned at the edge of a polymer aperture by surface tension. The change in the curvature of the interface is caused by stimulus-responsive hydrogel actuators. (Source Adapted from Zhu, D., Zeng, X., Li, C. and Jiang, H. 2011. Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 20(2), 389-395. With permission.)... 

---