title: Preparation and characterization of light-sensitive microcapsules based on a liquid crystalline polyester.
abstract: Photosensitive microcapsules and membranes based on poly(α-methylstilbenesebacoate-co-α-methylstilbeneisophthalate), containing the photosensitive α-methylstilbene moiety, were prepared by a phase-inversion precipitation process. In order to simulate the morphology and behavior of the microcapsule shell under UV irradiation, an exhaustive characterization of a membrane was first performed by ESEM, POM, AFM, and contact angle measurements. The prepared microcapsules contained either chloroform or a concentrated solution of vanillin in chloroform as the core; in all cases, before UV irradiation, their outer surface appeared smooth and dense. The influence of vanillin on microcapsule cross-section morphology was observed by ESEM microscopy. Release of vanillin in water, at room temperature, was markedly influenced by UV irradiation: in the absence of irradiation, it was practically negligible, while when microcapsules were submitted to continuous irradiation with UV light, the surface morphology of the capsules changed drastically and vanillin started to be released after ca. 20 min of irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Departament de Enginyeria Química, Av. Països Catalans, 26-43007, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Krzysztof Artur
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bogdanowicz
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tylkowski
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giamberini
mesh_terms: D002214:Capsules / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D011091:Polyesters