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Photoresponsive Block Copolymer Nanostructures through Implementation of Arylazopyrazoles.
- Source :
-
ACS macro letters [ACS Macro Lett] 2024 Aug 20; Vol. 13 (8), pp. 1065-1071. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 02. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Responsive nanomaterials that can undergo reversible changes in morphology are interesting for the development of functional materials that interact with and respond to their environment. Amphiphilic block copolymers are well-known for their ability to create a wide range of supramolecular nanostructures in solution. Arylazopyrazoles (AAPs) are versatile molecular photoswitches, which change their configuration and hydrophobicity upon irradiation with UV light (365 nm, Z isomer, less hydrophobic) and green light (520 nm, E isomer, more hydrophobic). In this work, photoswitchable block copolymers containing arylazopyrazole tetraethylene glycol methacrylate (AAPMA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) forming amphiphilic POEGMA- b -PAAPMA with varying block lengths are prepared by RAFT polymerization. The photochemical properties of AAP persist in the polymers. Due to their amphiphilic structure, the polymers self-assemble into supramolecular morphologies in water. Remarkably, photoisomerization results in a reversible change in the self-assembly behavior. Specifically, spherical and cylindrical micelles are observed for POEGMA <subscript>33</subscript> - b -PAAPMA <subscript>47</subscript> when illuminated with green or UV light during assembly. Furthermore, the morphology of assembled structures can be reversibly switched by subsequent irradiation with UV and green light.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2161-1653
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- ACS macro letters
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 39094101
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00345