Issue 24, 2011

Photo-driven pulsating vesicles from self-assembled lipid-like azopolymers

Abstract

A unique respiring behavior of artificial cells based on self-assembled vesicles of photo-responsive azobenzene-endcapped polyethylene glycol (Azo-PEGs) was reported. The extraordinarily large change in vesicle size originates from an isomerization-driven molecular assembly upon UV-Vis irradiation cycles, and is associated with substantial transmembrane solvent transportation. The actual mechanism is believed to be complex although it is clear that the azobenzene groups act as photo-trigger which allows a large amount of water being repeatedly pumped in or out of the vesicles by visible or UV irradiation.

Graphical abstract: Photo-driven pulsating vesicles from self-assembled lipid-like azopolymers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Aug 2011
Accepted
30 Sep 2011
First published
04 Nov 2011

Soft Matter, 2011,7, 11345-11350

Photo-driven pulsating vesicles from self-assembled lipid-like azopolymers

J. Hu, H. Yu, L. H. Gan and X. Hu, Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 11345 DOI: 10.1039/C1SM06495A

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