Photoreactive and thermoresponsive N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)surfmer copolymer hydrogels containing 4,4-di(6-sulfato-hexyloxy)azobenzene (DSHA) dianions are described. The functional hydrogels are obtained in a two steps. First a micellar aqueous solution of (11-(acryloyloxy)undecyl)trimethylammonium bromide (AUTMAB) and NIPAM is exposed to 60Co-gamma irradiation, and a thermoresponsive copolymer gel is obtained. Second, DSHA is included by shrinking the gel at 50 degrees C and subsequent reswelling in an aqueous solution of DSHA disodium salt at 20 degrees C. Reswelling is accompanied by electrostatic adsorption of DSHA dianions at the positively charged AUTMAB headgroups replacing the bromide ions. Gels containing trans-DSHA are transparent yellow at room temperature (max = 370 nm), while gels containing cis-rich DSHA are orange (max = 460 and 330 nm). Energy dispersive X-ray measurements indicate that 41% of the bromide ions are exchanged if trans-DSHA is used for adsorption, and only 7.5% if cis-DSHA is used. The incorporation of DSHA lowers the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) from 34 to 32 degrees C. Below the LCST, DSHA can be switched from the trans- to the cis-rich state and vice versa upon irradiation with UV ( = 366 nm) or visible light ( 450 nm). Above the LCST no photoreaction takes place.