Controlled origami folding of hydrogel bilayers with sustained reversibility for robust microcarriers

Abstract

Soft origami structures: Planar bilayer microparticles consisting of active and passive layers show a structural transformation to microcapsules because of an anisotropic volume expansion (see picture). The soft hydrogel materials used for both layers facilitate the reversible transformation and complete closure of the compartment, which enables insitu encapsulation and triggered release of micro- to nanoscopic active ingredients. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.