Fig. 2
From: Cellular responses to beating hydrogels to investigate mechanotransduction
Temperature modulation during actuation does not exceed hyperthermia temperature. A schematic of a 60/40 NIPAM/NEAM gels with AuNRs, which actuate and show temperature changes when irradiated with NIR light, b 0/100 NIPAM/NEAM gels with AuNRs, which show a temperature gradient but do not actuate when irradiated with NIR laser, c 60/40 NIPAM/NEAM gels without AuNRs, which do not actuate or generate a temperature gradient when irradiated with NIR laser. The temperature gradient is depicted with color shading and the deswelling is shown by changes in the mesh size (not to scale). d–f Representative thermal images obtained during photothermal heating of the gels for a–c, respectively, scale bar = 3 mm. The laser is turned on at ~60 sec (340 mW, 1 Hz, 100 ms laser ON time) and turned off at ~120 sec. g–i Temperature profiles for the pulsed laser, calculated from images as depicted in d–f, respectively. j The mean temperature of the irradiated portion of the gel oscillates with the laser frequency. k A surface plot of the gel temperature, showing the spatial control of actuation. l The spatial temperature profile changes with the laser pulse, which is turned on at t = 0 ms. (340 mW, 1 Hz, 100 ms ON time)
