Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to self-healing systems including at least a structural polymer, a plurality of optical fibers or polymer waveguides embedded in the structural polymer, and a plurality of micro-channels through the structural polymer, wherein the micro-channels are configured to deliver a curing composition to at least one site of damage in the system. In another aspect, the curing composition can include a photo-polymerizable liquid monomer, and, optionally, a sensitizer, a photo-initiator, and/or a toughening agent, articles comprising the same, and methods of in situ self-healing of damage including Mode-I fractures using visible irradiation from the optical fibers or polymer waveguides to photo-polymerize the liquid monomer.