Novel polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with photo-responsive permeability based on the host-guest complex between azobenzene (Azo) and P-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) were designed via direct blending with Azo and beta-CD modified PES, and poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) was used as the "bridge" between Azo/beta-CD and PES. The behavior of the Azo sliding out of or inserting into beta-CD under different external irradiations induced the photo-responsive permeability for the membranes, which was demonstrated by investigating the water fluxes through the membranes under the external irradiations at 450 and 365 nm. Simultaneously, the change of the pore sizes was confirmed to be responsible for the photoresponsibility of the prepared membranes, by investigating the water contact angle and standard PEG molecule permeation under the various external irradiations. The utilization of the supramolecular selfassembly was a new method for the design and preparation of stimuli-responsive membranes, which might be applicable in designing other sensitive membranes. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved