Light‐Addressable Nanocomposite Hydrogels Allow Plasmonic Actuation and In Situ Temperature Monitoring in 3D Cell Matrices

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2022-01, Vol.32 (5), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Yu, Wei, Deschaume, Olivier, Dedroog, Lens, Garcia Abrego, Christian Jose, Zhang, Pengfei, Wellens, Jolan, de Coene, Yovan, Jooken, Stijn, Clays, Koen, Thielemans, Wim, Glorieux, Christ, Bartic, Carmen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actuation; Composite materials; Deformation; Fluorescence; Formability; Hydrogels; in situ cell deformation; Infrared lasers; localized 3D temperature measurement, optical cell actuation; Materials science; Monitoring; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanorods; plasmonic nanoparticles; Plasmonics; poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels; Polyethylene glycol; Rhodamine; Silicon dioxide; Temperature sensors
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202108234

This paper reports a multifunctional platform based on a nanocomposite hydrogel combining poly(ethylene glycol), with rhodamine B‐containing silica nanoparticles (RhB@SiO2), as temperature sensors, and gold nanorods (AuNRs) as plasmonic heaters. This composite material acts as a light‐addressable cellular matrix able to induce 3D temperature gradients locally and dynamically using the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of AuNRs under near‐infrared (NIR) laser illumination. At the same time, the temperature changes are probed locally by monitoring changes of the RhB@SiO2 NPs fluorescence. As a result of plasmonic heating, and, depending on the preparation protocol, the light‐addressable hydrogel also deforms controllably and reversibly, allowing mechanical and thermal cellular stimulation in a 3D matrix. The hydrogel deformation is quantified by means of inline holographic microscopy. This approach makes it possible to accurately and locally control and simultaneously measure temperature gradients and deformation in soft, 3D deformable materials and will enable novel platforms for studying cellular thermo‐ and mechanobiology. A light‐addressable nanocomposite hydrogel as an active 3D extracellular matrix is reported, where temperature gradients and mechanical deformation can be generated locally and monitored optically, at the single cell level. Remote cell actuation and in situ parameter monitoring are essential in developing new emerging tools for cell biology and tissue engineering.