Figure 1

Figure 1:
(a) Conformation contracted as PMT cross-linkers bound to metal ions, and chain expended after a chelator treatment;
(b) Images of protein or PEG-DA cross-linked hydrogels show changes in size upon exposure to 100 mM solutions of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions and changes after chelating using EDTA;
(c) The volume contraction (blue bars) and recovery (red bars) of the hydrogels in response to adsorb and desorb metal ions. [28]. Reprinted with permission from ref. 28. Copyright (2008) American Chemical Society.