A Dual-Responsive
Supra-Amphiphilic Polypseudorotaxane
Constructed from a Water-Soluble Pillar[7]arene and an Azobenzene-Containing
Random Copolymer
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Abstract
Macromolecular supra-amphiphiles
refer to a kind of macromolecular
amphiphiles whose hydrophlic and hydrophobic parts are connected by
noncovalent forces. They have applications in various fields, such
as drug delivery, sensor systems, and biomedical materials. Here we
report a novel molecular recognition motif between a new thermoresponsive
water-soluble pillar[7]arene (<b>WP7</b>) and an azobenzene
derivative. Furthermore, we utilized this recognition motif to construct
the first pillararene-based supra-amphiphilic polypseudorotaxane which
can self-assemble to form vesicles in water. Due to the dual-responsiveness
of the molecular recognition motif (the thermoresponsiveness of <b>WP7</b> and photoresponsiveness of azobenzene), the reversible
transformations between solid nanospheres based on the self-assembly
of the polymer backbone and vesicles based on the self-assembly of
the supra-amphiphilic polypseudorotaxane were achieved by adjusting
the solution temperature or UV–visible light irradiation. These
dual-responsive aggregation behaviors were further used in the controlled
release of water-soluble dye calcein molecules