Chitosan (CS), CS-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM) and their dyed (pyrene) hydrogels were prepared using glutaraldehyde (Glu) as a crosslinker. The gelation rate, swelling behaviors in ethanol/water mixtures, electricity-induced contraction and thermoresponse of the gels were investigated using fluorescence probe technique. Results showed that CS/Glu, and PNIPAM-containing CS/Glu gels exhibited similar properties in all aspects examined, except that the transparence of the CS-PNIPAM/Glu gel is very dependent upon the temperature. The CS-PNIPAM/Glu gel is transparent below 30 degrees C, whereas opaque above 32 degrees C. It is expected that this observation may be useful for the design and preparation of new kinds of hydrogel devices.