Stimuli-responsive fluorescent hydrogels (FHs) are excellent and attractive candidates for information encryption and anti-counterfeiting applications, which can allow the stored information to be visualized by a vibrant display with a higher degree of security levels. However, hydrogel-based information storage devices for anti-counterfeiting are still in their infancy, so developing an environment-friendly, low-cost, and scalable approach to produce stimuli-responsive FHs is still challenging.
Curcumin is a natural biocompatible and sustainable material, which has shown great therapeutic potential as an anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer compound. Although it is a pH-sensitive and fluorescent molecule, it is difficult to use in the hydrogels as fluorescent agent due to its very weak fluorescence in polar water.
A study