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The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Photo-responsive hydrogels based on a ruthenium complex: synthesis and degradation
Sara Tavakkoli Fard1, Boonya Thongrom1, Katharina Achazi2
1Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany. s.tavakkolifard@yahoo.com.
Abstract:
We report the synthesis of a photo responsive metallo-hydrogel based on a ruthenium(II) complex as a functional cross-linker. This metal complex contains reactive 4AAMP (= 4-(acrylamidomethyl)pyridine) ligands, which can be cleaved by light-induced ligand substitution. Ru[(bpy)2(4AAMP)2] cross-links 4-arm-PEG-SH macromonomers by thia-Michael-addition to the photocleavable 4AAMP ligand for the preparation of the hydrogel. Irradiation with green light at 529 nm leads to photodegradation of the metallo-hydrogel due to the ligand dissociation, which can be adjusted by adjusting the Ru[(bpy)2(4AAMP)2] concentration. The ligand substitution forming [Ru(bpy)2(L)2]2+ (L = H2O and CH3CN) can be monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy and UV-visible absorption. The control of degradation by light irradiation plays a significant role in modulating the elasticity and stiffness of the light sensitive metallo-hydrogel network. The photo-responsive hydrogel is a viable substrate for cell cultures.
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