Photocleavable coumarin crosslinkers based polystyrene microgels: phototriggered swelling and release

Abstract

Two types of photocleavable crosslinkers (CLA and CLB) based on 7-amino coumarin moieties have been synthesized. The ingenious design for the crosslinkers with different vinyl functionalities was aimed to investigate the influence of the crosslinker’s structure on the photodegradation and photoswelling behavior of the constructed microgels. Analysis of DLS, UV spectra and fluorescence spectra verified the original intention and the generated microgels revealed structure-dependent photo-regulated swelling and degradation behavior. The successive loading and release of the hydrophobic Nile Red (NR) dye of the microgel upon visible light irradiation further showed its ability to be used as an excellent nanocarrier for hydrophobic compounds.