Open AccessLight controlled drug delivery containers based on spiropyran doped liquid crystal micro spheres
Author(s) -
Gia Petriashvili,
Lali Devadze,
Tsisana Zurabishvili,
Nino Sepashvili,
Ketevan Chubinidze
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
biomedical optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.362
H-Index - 86
ISSN - 2156-7085
DOI - 10.1364/boe.7.000442
Subject(s) - spiropyran , liquid crystal , merocyanine , materials science , photochromism , solubility , drug delivery , doping , aqueous solution , molecule , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , engineering
We have developed a novel, light activated drug delivery containers, based on spiropyran doped liquid crystal micro spheres. Upon exposure to UV/violet light, the spiropyran molecules entrapped inside the nematic liquid crystal micro spheres, interconvert from the hydrophobic, oil soluble form, to the hydrophilic, water soluble merocyanine one, which stimulates the translocation of the merocyanine molecules across the nematic liquid crystal-water barrier and results their homogeneous distribution throughout in an aqueous environment. Light controllable switching property and extremely high solubility of spiropyran in the nematic liquid crystal, promise to elaborate a novel and reliable vehicles for the drug delivery systems.