Azo-Bridged Dextran: A Photoresponsive Sustainable Material with Photo-Tunable Mechanical Properties
We report on the synthesis, characterization, and properties of dextran polymers, which are covalently bridged/cross-linked by azobenzene moieties. The reversible photoactivity of the azo moiety is retained in the polymers, and the kinetics of the <i>E</i>/<i>Z</i> isomerization depend on the dextran/azobenzene ratio. Together with the simple preparation, our approach provides convenient access to photoresponsive sustainable materials. Moreover, based on the water-soluble polymers, we have prepared photoresponsive hydrogels, which soften upon UV irradiation. Our findings are based on spectroscopy (UV/vis, IR, and NMR/DOSY), size exclusion chromatography, and rheology.
Authors
- Damjan Makuc
- Georg Gescheidt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6827-4337)
- Karin Stana Kleinschek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9189-0242)
- Konstantin Knaipp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2753-1954)
- Rupert Kargl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4327-7053)
- Ema Žagar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2694-4312)
- Janez Plavec (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1570-8602)
Institutions
- University of Ljubljana (SI)
- University of Maribor (SI)
- Graz University of Technology (AT)
- EN-FIST Centre of Excellence (Slovenia) (SI)
- National Institute of Chemistry (SI)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Biomacromolecules
- Published
- 2025-02-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01508
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.55
Funders
- TU Graz, Internationale Beziehungen und Mobilitätsprogramme
- Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno Dejavnost RS