UV and NIR dual-responsive self-assembly systems based on a novel coumarin derivative surfactant

Controllable self-assembly systems have attracted increasing attention in both the academic and industrial fields recently. Herein, we designed and synthesized a new photo-degradable anionic surfactant (PAS) with a coumarin group which could be degraded by both UV and NIR light. Thus, the micelles that are formed by sodium salts of PAS (PAS-Na) could be broken controllably under UV or NIR irradiation. Surface tension measurements, DLS, and Cryo-TEM were adopted to investigate the formation and disruption of PAS-Na micelles. PAS could also form wormlike micelles and vesicles when they co-assembled with common surfactant tetradecyldimethylamine oxide (C₁₄DMAO). These wormlike micelles and vesicles could be degraded by UV and NIR irradiation due to the participation of PAS. Accordingly, the rheology properties of the wormlike micelles and vesicles were also changed significantly. Finally, the stimulus-responsive system was used to control the diffusion of hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules. And it has shown controllable release effects on both the hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules.