Self‐Assembly of Giant Polymer Vesicles by Light‐Assisted Solid Hydration

An amphiphilic copolymer containing a terminal spiropyran (P‐SP) forms giant polymer vesicles when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. The process involves photoisomerization of the spiropyran to the corresponding hydrophilic merocyanine isomer, which significantly improves the efficiency of film hyd...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Macromolecular rapid communications. 2019-05, Vol.40 (9), p.e1900027-n/a
Main Authors: Caire da Silva, Lucas, Rideau, Emeline, Landfester, Katharina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Assembly
film‐hydration
Fluorescence
Fluorescence microscopy
Hydration
Light
Light beams
merocyanines
Micrometers
Polymers
polymersomes
self‐assembly
spiropyrans
Ultraviolet radiation
Vesicles
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Summary:An amphiphilic copolymer containing a terminal spiropyran (P‐SP) forms giant polymer vesicles when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. The process involves photoisomerization of the spiropyran to the corresponding hydrophilic merocyanine isomer, which significantly improves the efficiency of film hydration and facilitates the self‐assembly of the polymer in water. Giant vesicles formed by light‐assisted hydration have diameters ranging from 5 to 25 micrometers, and can be observed and quantified by confocal fluorescence microscopy. Rapid and efficient formation of giant vesicles only occur during exposure of P‐SP to UV light and within the area delimited by the light beam. Light‐assisted hydration offers high spatial and temporal control over vesicle formation, conditions not easily fulfilled by other techniques. Giant polymer vesicles form in water only in regions exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. The self‐assembly is triggered by the photoisomerization of a spiropyran linked to an amphiphilic copolymer, which becomes more hydrophilic under UV light due to the formation of merocyanines. The enhanced permeability of the polymer film to the aqueous medium facilitates rapid and efficient formation of vesicles.
ISSN:1022-1336
1521-3927
DOI:10.1002/marc.201900027