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Menglin Chen1, Flemming Besenbacher
1Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. menglin@inano.au.dk
ACS Nano
|February 4, 2011
Summary
Researchers created novel biodegradable nanofibers from polycaprolactone (PCL) and light-responsive azobenzene. These functionalized nanofibers exhibit significant, reversible changes in wettability upon light exposure, opening new possibilities for smart materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Surface Science
Background:
- Biodegradable polymers like polycaprolactone (PCL) are widely used but often lack dynamic surface properties.
- Incorporating photoresponsive molecules offers a pathway to create 'smart' materials with tunable surface characteristics.
- Azobenzene derivatives are well-established photochromic units capable of reversible isomerization upon light irradiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers functionalized with light-responsive azobenzene.
- To characterize the surface chemistry and morphology of the modified nanofibers.
- To investigate the light-induced, reversible changes in surface wettability.
Main Methods:
- Facile one-pot synthesis followed by electrospinning to prepare azobenzene-modified PCL nanofibers.
- Surface analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS).
- Morphological characterization via scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
- Wettability studies using UV-vis spectroscopy and contact angle (CA) measurements.
Main Results:
- Successful conjugation of azobenzene moieties onto the PCL nanofibers was confirmed by XPS and ToF-SIMS.
- ToF-SIMS provided detailed chemical mapping and morphology information, complementing SEM data.
- The functionalized nanofiber surfaces demonstrated significant and reversible changes in wettability upon exposure to UV-vis light.
- Contact angle measurements quantitatively confirmed the light-responsive surface property changes.
Conclusions:
- Novel biodegradable PCL nanofibers functionalized with azobenzene were successfully prepared.
- The synthesized nanofibers exhibit light-responsive and reversible wettability, confirmed by spectroscopic and contact angle analyses.
- These findings highlight the potential of these smart nanofibers for applications requiring tunable surface properties.
