Dual stimuli-responsive supramolecular hydrogel of bionanoparticles and hyaluronan

We report here the synthesis of a light- and chemical-responsive supramolecular hydrogel of bacteriophage M13 and hyaluronan locked by the molecular recognition between beta-cyclodextrin and trans-azobenzene moieties. Compared to rod-like tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), the filamentous bacteriophage M13 with higher aspect ratio and more flexible structure formed a much more robust hydrogel with hyaluronan, which was confirmed by the inversion test and rheological measurement. The resulting M13 hydrogel showed sol-gel transition behaviours induced by either photo-irradiation or competitive host or guest molecules. Moreover, cells could be facilely encapsulated and delivered using this supramolecular hydrogel with great cell viability.