Near-IR-induced dissociation of thermally-sensitive star polymers

Yuqiong Dai; Hao Sun; Sunirmal Pal; Yunlu Zhang; Sangwoo Park; Christopher P. Kabb; Wei David Wei; Brent S. Sumerlin

doi:10.1039/C6SC04650A

Near-IR-induced dissociation of thermally-sensitive star polymers†

Yuqiong Dai,^a Hao Sun,^a Sunirmal Pal,^a Yunlu Zhang,^b Sangwoo Park,

^a Christopher P. Kabb,^a Wei David Wei^b and Brent S. Sumerlin

*^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, FL 32611-7200, USA
E-mail: sumerlin@chem.ufl.edu
Fax: +1 352 392 9741

^b Department of Chemistry, Center for Nanostructured Electronic Materials, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, FL 32611-7200, USA

Abstract

Responsive systems sensitive to near-infrared (NIR) light are promising for triggered release due to efficient deep tissue penetration of NIR irradiation relative to higher energy sources (e.g., UV), allowing for spatiotemporal control over triggering events with minimal potential for tissue damage. Herein, we report star polymers containing thermally-labile azo linkages that dissociate during conventional heating or during localized heating via the photothermal effect upon NIR irradiation. Controlled release during conventional heating was investigated for the star polymers loaded with a model dye, with negligible release being observed at 25 °C and >80% release at 90 °C. Star polymers co-loaded with NIR-responsive indocyanine green showed rapid dye release upon NIR irradiation (λ ≥ 715 nm) due to the photothermally-induced degradation of azo linkages within the cores of the star polymers. This approach provides access to a new class of delivery and release systems that can be triggered by noninvasive external stimulation.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C6SC04650A
Article type: Edge Article
Submitted: 17 Oct 2016
Accepted: 01 Dec 2016
First published: 13 Dec 2016
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry

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Chem. Sci., 2017,8, 1815-1821

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Near-IR-induced dissociation of thermally-sensitive star polymers

Y. Dai, H. Sun, S. Pal, Y. Zhang, S. Park, C. P. Kabb, W. D. Wei and B. S. Sumerlin, Chem. Sci., 2017, 8, 1815 DOI: 10.1039/C6SC04650A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Chemical Science

Near-IR-induced dissociation of thermally-sensitive star polymers†

Abstract

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Near-IR-induced dissociation of thermally-sensitive star polymers

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