Visible Light Induced Control over Reversible Single Chain Nanoparticle Folding

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2023 Jul 23:e202309259. doi: 10.1002/anie.202309259. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTWe introduce a class of single chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) that respond to visible light (λmax = 415 nm) with complete unfolding from their compact structure into linear chain analogues. The initial folding is achieved by a simple esterification reaction of the polymer backbone constituted of acrylic acid and polyethylene glycol carrying monomer units, introducing bimane moieties, which allow for the photochemical unfolding reversing the ester-bond formation. The compaction and the light driven unfolding proceed cleanly and both are readily followed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) monitoring the change in the hydrodynamic radius (RH). Importantly, the folding reaction and the light-induced unfolding are reversible, supported by the high conversion of the photo cleavage. As the unfolding reaction occurs in aqueous systems, the system holds promise for controlling the unfolding of SCNPs in biological environments.PMID:37485591 | DOI:10.1002/anie.202309259
Source: Angewandte Chemie - Category: Chemistry Authors: Source Type: research