Fig. 1. (A) Schematic composition of a photo-responsive CMC hydrogel crosslinked by self-complementary duplexes (1)/(1) and trans-azobenzene/β-CD complexes. (B) Rheometry analysis corresponding to: (a and a′) the G′ and G′′ of the CMC hydrogel crosslinked by the (1)/(1) and trans-azobenzene/β-CD complexes; (b and b′) the G′ and G′′ of the (1)/(1)-crosslinked hydrogel in the presence of the cis-azobenzene tethers. (C) The reversible and switchable changes of the G′ and G′′ upon the photoisomerization of the (1)/(1)-crosslinked hydrogel in the presence of the trans-azobenzene/β-CD complex (state I) and in the presence of the cis-azobenzene and β-CD units (state II). (D) SEM images of: (I) the stiff hydrogel in state I; (II) the hydrogel of low stiffness in state II.
