Photoresponsive Glycopolymer Aggregates as Controlled Release Systems. Issue 23 (10th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Menon, Sajith; Ongungal, Rahul M.; Das, Suresh
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular chemistry and physics. Volume 215:Issue 23(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 2365
• Page End: 2373
• Publication Date: 2014-09-10
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Synthetic products -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201400365
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1352

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The use of a new block copolymer made up of poly(azobenzene methacrylate) (PMAzo) and poly(3‐O‐4‐vinylbenzoyl‐<sc>d</sc>‐glucopyranose) (PBG) is described for the solubilization of water‐insoluble dyes such as Nile Red in aqueous solutions. This polymer, which is abbreviated as PMAzo<italic>‐b‐</italic>PBG, self‐assembles into spherical aggregates in water as confirmed by atomic force microscopy. UV irradiation of the aqueous polymer solution destabilizes the aggregates brought about as a result of the <italic>trans–cis</italic> isomerization of the MAzo units. Dissociated aggregates reunite to form tubular aggregates when the solution is irradiated with 450 nm light. Nile Red, which is a hydrophobic dye, can be incorporated into these aggregates and subsequently released using UV light. The encapsulation, release, and re‐encapsulation of Nile Red are studied using fluorescence spectroscopy. <boxed-text content-type="graphic" position="anchor" orientation="portrait"><graphic position="anchor" mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh2hn0c6f4" orientation="portrait" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></boxed-text></p> </abstract>