Programmable 3D morphologies in laser-etched organogel–hydrogel hybrids

Materials with heterogeneous structures exhibit the ability to form intricate three-dimensional shapes upon pressure release, positioning them as highly promising for applications in biomedicine and tissue engineering. In this study, laser etching was employed to create hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the surface of organogel–hydrogel hybrids. Leveraging the distinct swelling behaviors of hydrogels and organogels, programmable self-adaptive materials with complex three-dimensional morphologies were successfully developed by fine-tuning both etching and gel parameters. Notably, structures mimicking “sheep,” “octopus,” and “snail” demonstrate both artistic value and programmable material properties, with direct applications in on-demand biomedical devices and adaptive soft actuators.