Double-Network Hydrogel-Based Photonic Crystal Sensor for Mechanical Force Naked Eye Sensing and Its Application in Medical Compressive or Stretchy Instruments

Songtao Liu, Qi Li, Jiaxin Wang, Xingyu Wang, Nyv Mondele Mbola, Zihui Meng, Min Xue*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Herein, we coalesced a poly(acrylamide-co-N-Acryloyl phenylalanine)/polyacrylamide double-network (P(AM-co-APA)/PAM DN) hydrogel with a photonic crystal array, fabricating a mechanochromic sensor for application in flexible medical instruments by naked eye monitoring. The intensified mechanical properties of the DN hydrogel were proved by the mechanical property tests, which are attributed to the interactions of chemical bonds and hydrogen bonds between the two polymer networks. In the range of stress from 0 to 328 kPa, the reflected light wavelength of this sensor changed from 659 to 480 nm and the color changed from red to blue in response; in the range of pressure from 0 to 85 kPa, the sensor exhibited a spectrum changing from 658 nm to 467 nm, covering almost the whole visible color range. The prepared sensor was incorporated into medical instruments including the femoral artery hemostat and bandage to indicate pressure and tensile stress in practical applications. Within the appropriate pressure for wound recovery, the sensitivity and correlation between the external stimulus of pressure and wavelength of this integrated sensor were 5.58 nm·kPa-1 and over 0.99, respectively. Ultimately, the sensor proved to be tough, sensitive, and durable, showing a broad prospect of a series of future applications.

Original languageEnglish
JournalACS applied materials & interfaces
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2022

Keywords

  • double-network hydrogels
  • mechanical forces
  • medical instrument
  • photonic crystals
  • sensors

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