Multiresponsive hydrogel coassembled from phenylalanine and azobenzene derivatives as 3D scaffolds for photoguiding cell adhesion and release.

A multiresponsive hydrogel system coassembled from phenylalanine derivative gelator (LPF2) and azobenzene (Azo) derivative (PPI) is constructed, which can respond to temperature, pH, host-guest interaction, and photoirradiation. A set of techniques including circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, (1)H NMR, and X-ray powder diffraction confirm that the hydrogel is formed through hydrogen bonds between amide moieties/pyridine and carbonyl groups, enduing the coassembled hydrogel with multiresponsive properties that make it possible to control cell encapsulation and release in three-dimensional environments under multistimulus, for example, UV irradiation. This study brings a novel approach to develop multistimuli-responsive hydrogels by coassembly of various responsive components for biomedical interest, for example, the controlled delivery of various therapeutic biological agents.