Photoluminescent and tough hydrogels from silk fibroin and polyacrylic acid complexed with europium
Biocompatible, tough, and photoluminescent hydrogels are highly desirable for biomedical applications in vivo. Herein, hybrid hydrogels prepared from silk fibroin (SF) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) and complexed with europium, named as SF-PAA-Eu3+ hydrogels, exhibit good comprehensive properties. Owing to the intensive molecular interactions among SF, PAA, and Eu3+, SF-PAA-Eu3+ hydrogels show a great