Wavelength-Selective Disruption and Triggered Release with Photolabile Polyelectrolyte Multilayers

This paper describes photosensitive polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs), constructed using layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly, which contain polymers that comprise combinations of photocleavable methacrylate esters and photoinert cationic methacrylate esters. The solubility of these polymers in aqueous base depends upon irradiation with either ultraviolet or visible light. PEMs with dialkylaminocoumarin groups dissolve upon irradiation with visible light, while analogous films with nitrobenzyl ester-substituted polymers dissolve upon irradiation with UV light. Wavelength-selective release of fluorescent polymers as guests is demonstrated using this approach.