title: High levels of molecular orientation of surface azo chromophores can be optically induced even in a wet biological environment.
abstract: We have developed polyelectrolyte multilayer bio-films containing azobenzene chromophores that enhance reversible photo-orientation upon irradiation with linearly polarized light, to effect surface photo-switching of adjacent biological systems. When conditions of film preparation and irradiation were optimized, we could observe the highest measured birefringence to date in amorphous systems (Δn > 0.2). This birefringence change to probe orientation was also for the first time measured and determined to be stable completely underwater, permitting optimization for in situ applications immersed in biological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2K6, Canada. Christopher.Barrett@McGill.ca.
authors.forename: Miloslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sailer
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D007536:Isomerism; D008027:Light; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D001391:Azo Compounds; D011108:Polymers; C069318:Disperse Red 1; C009850:azobenzene; C036658:acrylic acid