Photoresponsive materials are advantageous in numerous biomedical applications due to the temporal and spatial control they provide. Our lab is interested in the design of functional photoresponsive polymers for biomedical and engineering applications. In this regard we have developed two classes of photoresponsive polymers. The first of these is a class of photoresponsive polycarbonates incorporating the alkoxyphenacyl chromophore in the polymer backbone. When irradiated at 300 nm, these polymers undergo controlled polymer chain scission to yield (ACS Macro Letters, 2012). The mechanism of chain scission closely follows that observed for alkoxyphenacyl phototriggers. The second system is a class of coumarin based polyesters that undergo chain cross-linking at 350 nm due to [2+2] cycloaddition between coumarin units. The crosslinked polymer undergoes a reverse reaction upon irradiation at 254 nm. Irradiation at this wavelength also results in chain scission at ester bonds (Macromolecules 2013). The photoresponsive behaviors of the above polymers enable the fabrication of micropatterned thin films. We will illustrate the use of these polymers in the areas of proliferation of neural cells on photopatterned substrates and for controlled drug release.

Photodegradable and biodegradable biomaterials based on alkoxyphenacyl and coumarin chromophores

249th National Meeting (2015)

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