Multiswitchable photoacid–hydroxyflavylium–polyelectrolyte nano-assemblies

• DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.17.17
• Publication Date: 2021-01-19T09:00:00Z
• Authors: Alexander Zika; Franziska Gröhn
• Keywords: Isothermal Titration Calorimetry; Cationic polymerization; Allylamine

Light- and pH-responsive nano-assemblies with switchable size structure are formed by the association of a photoacid, anthocyanidin, linear polyelectrolyte in aqueous solution. Specifically, anionic disulfonated naphthol derivatives, neutral hydroxyflavylium, cationic poly(allylamine) used as building blocks for ternary electrostatic self-assembly, forming well-defined supramolecular assemblies tunable sizes 50 to 500 nm. Due network possible chemical reactions anthocyanidin excited-state dissociation photoacid upon irradiation, different ways alter system through external triggering accessible. The trigger effects can be controlled component ratios samples. Dynamic static light scattering (DLS, SLS) ζ-potential measurements were applied study stability particles, information on molecular was gained UV–vis spectroscopy. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) provided thermodynamics interaction forces assembly formation.