Aysenur Iscen

Papers

Total Citations

357

H-Index

About

Aysenur Iscen is a leading researcher in stimuli-responsive soft materials, with a focus on the chemistry and mechanics of spiropyran-based hydrogels. Her work bridges molecular design and macroscopic actuation, exploring how light-driven molecular switches can be integrated into polymer networks to create materials that mimic biological functions. In her highly cited 2020 paper (336 citations), she demonstrated the light-driven expansion of spiropyran hydrogels, a breakthrough that harnesses the reversible conversion of merocyanine to spiropyran to generate volumetric changes. This foundational work established a new paradigm for using molecular switches in soft robotics and smart materials. Building on this, her 2023 study (21 citations) revealed the critical role of supramolecular polymers in enhancing the speed and efficiency of photo-actuation, enabling reversible bending and even locomotion in hydrogel systems. By combining supramolecular and covalent components, Iscen has advanced the design of hybrid polymers that respond more rapidly and robustly to light. Her contributions are shaping the future of adaptive materials, with implications for biomedical devices, artificial muscles, and autonomous soft robots.