title: Light controlled drug delivery containers based on spiropyran doped liquid crystal micro spheres.
abstract: We have developed a novel, light activated drug delivery containers, based on spiropyran doped liquid crystal micro spheres. Upon exposure to UV/violet light, the spiropyran molecules entrapped inside the nematic liquid crystal micro spheres, interconvert from the hydrophobic, oil soluble form, to the hydrophilic, water soluble merocyanine one, which stimulates the translocation of the merocyanine molecules across the nematic liquid crystal-water barrier and results their homogeneous distribution throughout in an aqueous environment. Light controllable switching property and extremely high solubility of spiropyran in the nematic liquid crystal, promise to elaborate a novel and reliable vehicles for the drug delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cybernetics of the Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, 0175, Georgia.
authors.forename: Gia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petriashvili
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cybernetics of the Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, 0175, Georgia.
authors.forename: Lali
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Devadze
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cybernetics of the Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, 0175, Georgia.
authors.forename: Tsisana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zurabishvili
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cybernetics of the Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, 0175, Georgia.
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sepashvili
authors.affiliation: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, 1 Ilia Chavchavadze Ave, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia.
authors.forename: Ketevan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chubinidze
keywords: (160.0160) Materials; (160.3710) Liquid crystals; (160.5335) Photosensitive materials