Wavelength-selective light-responsive DASA-functionalized polymersome nanoreactors

Omar Rifaie-Graham, Sebastian Ulrich, Nikolas F.B. Galensowske, Sandor Balog, Mohamed Chami, Daniel Rentsch, James R. Hemmer, Javier Read De Alaniz, Luciano F. Boesel*, Nico Bruns

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

152 Citations (Scopus)
33 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Transient activation of biochemical reactions by visible light and subsequent return to the inactive state in the absence of light is an essential feature of the biochemical processes in photoreceptor cells. To mimic such light-responsiveness with artificial nanosystems, polymersome nanoreactors were developed that can be switched on by visible light and self-revert fast in the dark at room temperature to their inactive state. Donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs), with their ability to isomerize upon irradiation with visible light, were employed to change the permeability of polymersome membranes by switching polarity from a nonpolar triene-enol form to a cyclopentenone with increased polarity. To this end, amphiphilic block copolymers containing poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) in their hydrophobic block were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization and functionalized either with a DASA that is based on Meldrum's acid or with a novel fast-switching pyrazolone-based DASA. These polymers were self-assembled into vesicles. Release of hydrophilic payload could be triggered by light and stopped as soon as the light was turned off. The encapsulation of enzymes yielded photoresponsive nanoreactors that catalyzed reactions only if they were irradiated with light. A mixture of polymersome nanoreactors, one that switches in green light, the other switching in red light, permitted specific control of the individual reactions of a reaction cascade in one pot by irradiation with varied wavelengths, thus enabling light-controlled wavelength-selective catalysis. The DASA-based nanoreactors demonstrate the potential of DASAs to switch permeability of membranes and could find application to switch reactions on and off, on demand, e.g., in microfluidics or in drug delivery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8027-8036
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume140
Issue number25
Early online date1 Jun 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Jun 2018

Keywords

  • biochemistry
  • photoreceptors
  • drug delivery

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