光敏季铵盐Gemini表面活性剂a4-6-m在气/液界面的吸附

合成了3种不对称结构的季铵盐Gemini表面活性剂a4-6-m, 分子的一根疏水链是偶氮苯为端基的4个亚甲基链, 另一根是不同长度的脂肪链(m=12, 14, 16). 研究结果表明, 反式偶氮苯封端的a4-6-m在气/液界面上以直立方式排列, 偶氮苯端基间的π-π相互作用导致吸附分子较为紧密地排列, 但吸附层外表面含有偶氮苯成分使临界胶束浓度(cmc)时的表面张力(γcmc)较大. 紫外光激发使反式结构偶氮苯变为顺式结构, 这些极性较强的顺式偶氮苯夹杂在直立的烷烃链间, 增强的偶极-偶极相互作用促进了分子紧密排列, 使分子占据面积(Amin)略微减小. 增长脂肪链长度有助于降低临界胶团浓度和C20(使水的表面张力降低20 mN·m-1时所需的表面活性剂浓度), 但对γcmc影响不大.     

Synthesis and Photosensitive Properties of Poly(aryl imino) Containing Azobenzene Group (PAI-A)

Using 4,4′‐dibromobenzophenone and 4,4′‐diaminoazobenzene as monomers, poly(aryl imino) containing azobenzene unit (PAI‐A) was synthesized via palladium‐catalyzed amination, and structurally characterized by means of FT‐IR, ¹H NMR spectra and elemental analysis, the results of which show an agreement with the proposed structure. The UV absorption spectra were tested under different conditions. Additionally, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TG) measurements show that PAI‐A possesses high glass transition temperature (T_g>176°C) and good thermal stability with high decomposition temperatures in nitrogen atmosphere (T_D>410°C).     

含偶氮苯基团的三枝状凝胶因子的合成和凝胶性质研究

设计合成了一种中心为三乙基氨基,酰胺基作为氢键连接基团,柔性的烷基链连接偶氮苯基团的含多种分子间弱相互作用的三枝状有机凝胶因子1.由于偶氮苯基团处于分子的外缘,在THF溶液中,凝胶因子1表现出良好的光致变色行为.凝胶性能测试中,分子间存在氢键作用、π-π相互作用等使得该化合物在醇类、有机酸类和乙腈等极性溶剂中极易形成稳定的有机凝胶.在少数的非极性溶剂,如正己烷和环己烷中也可以形成稳定凝胶,并且随着溶剂极性的不同,凝胶形貌呈现出规则的纤维状或带状结构.     

含偶氮苯聚芳亚胺的合成、表征和光谱分析

以4,4＇-二溴二苯甲酮和4,4＇-二氨基偶氮苯为单体,通过钯催化的胺基化反应缩聚合成了含偶氮苯基团的新型结构聚芳亚胺（PAI-A）．PAI-A结构通过FT—IR,^1H NMR和元素分析测定,测试结果和目标产物吻合良好．在不同的条件下测定了聚合物的光学性能．     

Application of peptide nucleic acids containing azobenzene self-assembled electrochemical biosensors in detecting DNA sequences

Hybridization of peptide nucleic acids probe containing azobenzene (NH₂-TNT₄, N-PNAs) with DNA was performed by covalently immobilizing of NH₂-TNT₄ in sequence on the 3-mercaptopropionic acid self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode with the helps of N-(3-dimethylaminopropy1)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), and the hybrid was coded as N-PNAs/DNA. Using [Fe(CN)₆]^4−/3− (1:1) as the electrochemical indicator, the electrochemical properties of the N-PNAs self-assembled monolayer (N-PNAs-SAMs) and N-PNAs/DNA hybridization system under the conditions of before and after UV light irradiation were characterized with cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). Results showed that the redox currents decreased with the increase of irradiation time, suggesting that the ability of the charge transfer on the electrode surface was weakened and the conformation of hybrid system had been changed, and the control of PNAs/DNA hybridization could be realized by UV light irradiation. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50572107) and “Top Hundred Talents Program” of Chinese Academy of Science     

A photocontrolled beta-hairpin peptide

Beta-hairpins constitute the smallest beta-type structures in peptides and proteins. The development of highly stable, yet monomeric beta-hairpins based on the tryptophan zipper motif was therefore a remarkable success [A. G. Cochran, N. J. Skelton, M. A. Starovasnik, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 2001, 98, 5578-5583]. We have been able to design, synthesize and characterize a hairpin based on this motif which incorporates an azobenzene-based photoswitch, that allows for time-resolved folding studies of beta-structures with unprecedented time resolution. At room temperature the trans-azo isomer exhibits a mostly disordered structure; however, light-induced isomerization to the cis-azo form leads to a predominantly extended and parallel conformation of the two peptide parts, which are linked by the novel photoswitch, [3-(3-aminomethyl)phenylazo]phenylacetic acid (AMPP). While in the original sequence the dipeptide Asn-Gly forms a type I' beta-turn which connects the two strands of the hairpin, this role is adopted by the AMPP chromophore in our photoresponsive beta-hairpin that can apparently act as a beta I'-turn mimetic. The beta-hairpin structure was determined and confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, but the folding process can be monitored by pronounced changes in the CD, IR and fluorescence spectra. Finally, incorporation of the structurally and functionally important beta-hairpin motif into proteins by chemical ligation might allow for the photocontrol of protein structures and/or functions.     

Dual Responsive Block Copolymer Micelles Functionalized by NIPAM and Azobenzene

A novel amphiphilic diblock copolymer composed of a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) block and a hydrophobic block copolymerized by azobenzene‐containing methacrylate and N‐isopropylacrylamide was synthesized using ATRP. The polymer micelles showed dual responsiveness to heat and light. The size of the micelles was dependent on temperature and the encapsulated substance in the hydrophobic cores was released during heating and cooling processes. The hydrophobicity of the micellar cores appeared as a reversible change in response to light with neither disruption of the micelles nor leakage of the encapsulated substance while H‐aggregation of the azobenzene moieties was detected.

     

光控DNA可逆杂交/解链及其应用

通过光敏分子与DNA相互作用,可以实现光控DNA杂交与解链,这种光控DNA有望成为下一代DNA功能构筑材料和纳米机械能量输入模式。本文总结了可逆光控DNA杂交/解链的各种途径及其作用机理,并分析其使用条件和光控效果。已有实验结果的对比和归纳表明,从DNA骨架上楔入含侧链偶氮苯官能团的单元,通过顺反异构实现DNA双链解链与杂交的可逆光控最具应用潜力,并且仍有一定的改进空间。本文介绍了这种骨架楔入偶氮苯光控DNA材料在纳米技术和生物技术方面的应用,并对其进一步的研究方向进行了展望。     

Light‐Controlled Reversible Manipulation of Microgel Particle Size Using Azobenzene‐Containing Surfactant

The light‐induced reversible switching of the swelling of microgel particles triggered by photo‐isomerization and binding/unbinding of a photosensitive azobenzene‐containing surfactant is reported. The interactions between the microgel (N‐isopropylacrylamide, co‐monomer: allyl acetic acid, crosslinker: N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide) and the surfactant are studied by UV‐Vis spectroscopy, dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering measurements. Addition of the surfactant above a critical concentration leads to contraction/collapse of the microgel. UV light irradiation results in trans‐cis isomerization of the azobenzene unit incorporated into the surfactant tail and causes an unbinding of the more hydrophilic cis isomer from the microgel and its reversible swelling. The reversible contraction can be realized by blue light irradiation that transfers the surfactant back to the more hydrophobic trans conformation, in which it binds to the microgel. The phase diagram of the surfactant‐microgel interaction and transitions (aggregation, contraction, and precipitation) is constructed and allows prediction of changes in the system when the concentration of one or both components is varied. Remote and reversible switching between different states can be realized by either UV or visible light irradiation.     

Supramolecular assemblies of azobenzene‐β‐cyclodextrin dimers and azobenzene modified polycaprolactones

Click chemistry is employed to couple two β‐cyclodextrins at both ends of azobenzene moiety yielding dumbbell‐shaped amphiphiles (AZO‐β‐CD dimer) constructed by rigid aromatic building blocks as “body”, and hydrophilic cyclodextrins as “head” with almost quantitative yield and purity. Bulk aggregates formed by the self‐assembly of the supraamphiphiles through π–π stacking and hydrophobic effect are observed. Meanwhile, the rationally designed polyesters, named as AZO‐PCL with controllable molecular weights and low polydispersities, are successfully synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone in the presence of p‐aminoazobenzene as initiator. In the aqueous phase, very stable spherical particles are formed by host–guest interactions between AZO‐β‐CD and AZO‐PCLs; the spherical aggregates inherit the photo‐responsiveness of azobenzene. The detailed aggregation and disaggregation behaviors are fully investigated by TEM, SEM, NMR, 2D NOESY, IR, UV and XRD measurements. Compared to the previous works, our newly developed system can be fabricated with more readily manners, avoiding tedious synthetic process; the reversible and dynamic nature of the non‐covalent interactions also can be modulated alternatively by UV or visible light. Thus, such dumbbell‐shaped supra‐amphiphiles are of great potential applications in the controlled delivery systems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.