Preparation of Molecule-Responsive Microsized Hydrogels via Photopolymerization for Smart Microchannel Microvalves

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 515 - 519
• Main Authors: Shiraki, Yusuke, Tsuruta, Kazuhiro, Morimoto, Junpei, Ohba, Chihiro, Kawamura, Akifumi, Yoshida, Ryo, Kawano, Ryuji, Uragami, Tadashi, Miyata, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-03-2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Benzhydryl Compounds - chemistry; beta-Cyclodextrins - chemistry; Bisphenol A; dynamic cross-link; Flow rate; Fluorescence; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - chemistry; Light; Microchannels; microfluidics; Microscopes; Molecular Imprinting; molecular recognition; Phenols - chemistry; Photopolymerization; Polymerization - radiation effects; Polymers - chemical synthesis; Polymers - chemistry; Shrinkage; stimuli-responsive hydrogels; stimuli-responsive hydrogels; microchannels; molecular recognition; microfluidics; dynamic cross-link
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201400676

Microdevices designed for practical environmental pollution monitoring need to detect specific pollutants such as dioxins. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been widely used as a monomer for the synthesis of polycarbonate and epoxy resins. However, the recent discovery of its high potential ability to disrupt human endocrine systems has made the development of smart systems and microdevices for its detection and removal necessary. Molecule‐responsive microsized hydrogels with β‐cycrodextrin (β‐CD) as ligands are prepared by photopolymerization using a fluorescence microscope. The molecule‐responsive micro‐hydrogels show ultra‐quick shrinkage in response to target BPA. Furthermore, the flow rate of a microchannel is autonomously regulated by the molecule‐responsive shrinking of their hydrogels as smart microvalves.
Molecule‐responsive microsized hydrogels with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) as ligands are prepared by photopolymerization using a fluorescence microscope. The molecule‐responsive micro‐hydrogels show ultra‐quick shrinkage in response to target bisphenol A (BPA). The flow rate of a microchannel is autonomously regulated by the molecule‐responsive shrinking of the hydrogels as smart microvalves.