The light-driven supramolecular engineering of water dispersable nanocapsules (NCPs) is reported. The novel method relies on the utilization of an appropriate phototrigger for the development or the disruption of the NCPs, in a controlled manner. The fabrication of dual-responsive polymeric vesicles is based on the formation of π-π H-type interactions between photosensistive moieties present within the sterically crowded environment of polymer brushes upon application of UV irradiation, followed by HF etching of the inorganic core. The disruption of the vesicles is achieved remotely by applying a harmless trigger such as visible light irradiation. The hydrophilic and pH-sensitive nature of the vesicles allows their engineering in the environmentally benign aqueous media and enables the controlled alteration of the NCPs size upon variation of the solution pH. The inherent ability of the NCPs to fluoresce in water opens new possibilities for the development of addressable nanoscale capsules for biomedical applications.

From: Demetra S. Achilleos, T. Alan Hatton and Maria Vamvakaki,
“Light-Regulated Supramolecular Engineering of Polymeric Nanocapsules“,
J. Am. Chem. Soc.
134, 5726-5739 (2012).