SP-Modified Hydrogels (IMAGE) University of Pittsburgh Caption (A) Photoisomerization scheme of chromophore substituents from the protonated merocyanine (MCH+, Left) to SP (Right) forms in the methylenebis(acrylamide) cross-linked p(AAm-co-AAc) hydrogel. (B) Photographs of chromophore-containing p(AAm-co-AAc) hydrogel monoliths employed in experiments. (C) UV-visible absorbance spectra demonstrating reversible isomerization of MCH+ (absorption λmax = 420 nm) to SP (λmax = 320 nm) in solution. (D) Experimental setup (Top) to probe laser self-trapping due to photoinduced local contraction of the hydrogel, schematically depicted on the Bottom (see also Movie S1). A laser beam is focused onto the entrance face of the hydrogel while its exit face is imaged onto a CCD camera. Credit Aizenberg/Saravanamuttu Lab. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Feb 2020, 201902872; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1902872117 Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.