Light-Enabled Reversible Shape Transformation of Block Copolymer Particles

Confined self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) is effective to manipulate various shapes of particles. In emulsion confined self-assembly, reversibly light-trigged switchable BCP particles are extremely expected, yet rarely reported. Herein, a novel strategy is developed to realize reversibly light-responsive shape-transformation of BCP particles by constructing functional surfactants with light-active azobenzene (azo) groups in the confined self-assembly of BCPs within emulsion droplet. Ultraviolet and visible lights can reversibly modulate the amphiphilicity and interfacial affinity of the surfactants to different blocks, triggering the reversible microphase structure transformation of BCP particles with high temporal-spatial resolution. We can realize shape and morphological transitions of BCP particles from onion-shaped spherical particles to striped ellipsoids and, ultimately, to inverse onion-like particles by ultraviolet irradiation. More importantly, this shape transformation is reversible by the irradiation of visible light, attributed to the reversible trans-cis isomerization of azo groups. We also demonstrate that the light-triggered shape transformation of BCP particles can be employed in a controllable drug release through a noncontacted and programmed manner, showing promising potential in clinic and biomedicine.