Facile and efficient fabrication of photoresponsive microgels via thiol-Michael addition

摘要

A photoresponsive microgel is designed by the combination of a noncovalent assembly strategy with a covalent cross-linking method. End-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) with azobenzene (PEG-(Azo) _2) was mixed with acrylate-modified β-CD (β-CD-MAA) to form photoresponsive inclusion complex through host-guest interaction. The above photoresponsive complex was cross-linked by thiol-functionalized PEG (PEG-dithiol) via Michael addition click reaction. The photoreversibility of resulted microgel was studied by TEM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and 1H NMR measurements. The characterization results indicated that the reversible size changes of the microgel could be achieved by alternative UV-Vis irradiations with good repeatability.