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Photoresponsive Soft Nanotubes for Controlled Guest Release
Author(s) -
Kameta Naohiro,
Tanaka Asuka,
Akiyama Haruhisa,
Minamikawa Hiroyuki,
Masuda Mitsutoshi,
Shimizu Toshimi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201100179
Subject(s) - photoisomerization , azobenzene , nanotube , nanofiber , materials science , bilayer , nanotechnology , amphiphile , molecule , membrane , isomerization , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , carbon nanotube , composite material , polymer , copolymer , biochemistry , engineering , catalysis
Light, transformation, release! Self‐assembly of a simple amphiphile with an azobenzene unit produced an organic nanotube with 20 nm inner diameter. The trans ‐to‐ cis photoisomerization of the azobenzene unit within the solid bilayer membranes of the nanotube induced the transformation to cylindrical nanofibers (see graphic). This way, the nanotube was able to precisely release encapsulated guest molecules as a response to photostimulus.