We tailored azobenzene-modified poly(acrylic) acids to optimize the remote control by exposure to light of hydrophobic (self-)assemblies in aqueous media. Experimental illustrations include photo-switch of their mixed micellization with surfactants(1), and light-triggered permeabilization of lipid vesicles and plasma membrane of mammal cells(2). To analyze the measured fractions of bound hydrophobes (here azobenzene) as a function of the density of hydrophobic groups per chain, we propose a model based solely on one parameter: The critical hydrophobicity of a (bound) polymer segment.(1) This model enables us to discuss a bottom up approach for the design of optimal responses to light and it predicts non-monotonic variation of LCST that were recently evidenced.(3) (1) J. Ruchman, S. Sebai, C. Tribet, Macromolecules, 2011, 44, 604-611.(2) S. Sebai et al., Angewandte Chem. Int. Ed., 2012, 51, 2132-2136.(3) Yan-Jun Liu et al., Soft Matter 2012,8, 8446-8455.

Light-triggered hydrophobicity switch to control assemblies of azobenzene-containing copolymers with micelles, lipid and cell membranes

245th National Meeting (2013)

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