Kirigami hydrogels rise from cellulose film

Hydrogels have a network of water-attracting (hydrophilic) molecules, allowing their structure to swell substantially when exposed to water. Researchers Daisuke Nakagawa and Itsuo Hanasaki from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) are looking into new options for making “kirigami hydrogels” that swell into complex 3D structures.