UV-Responsive Behavior of Azopyridine-Containing Diblock Copolymeric Vesicles: Photoinduced Fusion, Disintegration and Rearrangement

A novel amphiphilic diblock copolymer composed of a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) and a hydrophobic polymethacrylate with photochromic azopyridine moieties in the side groups was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. The copolymeric vesicles showed photoinduced circular process including fusion, damage and defect formation, disruption, disintegration and rearrangement in H2O/THF during the irradiation of UV light. The process of photoresponsive cycle can be inhibited at any moment by visible light.