Photodegradable MEH-PPV in a natural rubber matrix: Toward a biocompatible colorimetric film for real-time light dosimetry

Abstract This paper reports an interesting strategy of incorporating a photodegradable polymeric luminophore, the poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] - OC 10 C 6 -PPV (MEH-PPV), in an inert natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensisis) - C 5 H 8 (NR) matrix for monitoring and recording the radiation dose administered to patients under phototherapy, particularly in the treatment for jaundice newborns. A time-trend spectrofluorimetric study has been carried out to characterize the luminescent changes of the MEH-PPV/NR luminophore system upon photodegradation by realistic conditions of phototherapy treatment, and the dependence between color and dose was used to determine the dose-response relationships of this color film dosimeter. Cytotoxicity tests (CHO-K1 cell line) have also been conducted on extracts of the OC 10 C 6 -PPV/C 5 H 8 before and after photolysis. The experimental results reported here highlight the potential application of photodegradable polymer/natural rubber as a biocompatible skin-mountable patch to monitor light exposure to improve patient care in phototherapy, photodynamic, lasers and radiation therapies.