View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Light-Induced Structural Evolutions in Electrostatic Nanoassemblies.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Light-Induced Structural Evolutions in Electrostatic Nanoassemblies.
Authors: Agarwal, Mohit1,2 (AUTHOR), Schweins, Ralf2 (AUTHOR), Gröhn, Franziska1 (AUTHOR) franziska.groehn@fau.de
Source: Polymers (20734360). Jan2026, Vol. 18 Issue 2, p190. 29p.
Subjects: Photoisomerization, Molecular self-assembly, Polyamidoamine dendrimers, Structural dynamics, Radiation, Nanostructured materials, Azobenzene derivatives
Abstract: Studying nanoscale self-assembly in real time using external stimuli unlocks new opportunities for dynamic and adaptive materials. While electrostatic self-assembly is well-established, real-time monitoring of its structural evolution under light irradiation remains largely unexploited. In this study, we employ light-responsive azobenzene dyes (Acid Yellow 38, AY38) and pH-sensitive polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers to investigate the kinetics of electrostatic self-assembly under UV irradiation. Using a custom in situ small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) setup, we track the real-time morphological transformations of self-assembled structures with sub-minute resolution. We introduce two distinct pathways: method A (pre-irradiated cis-AY38 for controlled, slow kinetics) and method B (direct UV-induced self-assembly, fast kinetics). The results reveal that trans-cis isomerization kinetics dictate the rate of self-assembly, influencing aggregate stability, ζ-potential evolution, and final morphology. Structural analysis using dynamic and static light scattering (DLS and SLS) and SANS elucidates a transition from spherical to ellipsoidal morphologies governed by electrostatic and dipole-dipole interactions. These findings establish photoisomerization-driven self-assembly as a robust mechanism for tunable nanoscale architectures, paving the way for adaptive photonic materials, targeted drug delivery, and reconfigurable nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 191214597
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Light-Induced Structural Evolutions in Electrostatic Nanoassemblies.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Agarwal%2C+Mohit%22">Agarwal, Mohit</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schweins%2C+Ralf%22">Schweins, Ralf</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gröhn%2C+Franziska%22">Gröhn, Franziska</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> franziska.groehn@fau.de</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Polymers+%2820734360%29%22">Polymers (20734360)</searchLink>. Jan2026, Vol. 18 Issue 2, p190. 29p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Photoisomerization%22">Photoisomerization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Molecular+self-assembly%22">Molecular self-assembly</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polyamidoamine+dendrimers%22">Polyamidoamine dendrimers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structural+dynamics%22">Structural dynamics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radiation%22">Radiation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nanostructured+materials%22">Nanostructured materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Azobenzene+derivatives%22">Azobenzene derivatives</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Studying nanoscale self-assembly in real time using external stimuli unlocks new opportunities for dynamic and adaptive materials. While electrostatic self-assembly is well-established, real-time monitoring of its structural evolution under light irradiation remains largely unexploited. In this study, we employ light-responsive azobenzene dyes (Acid Yellow 38, AY38) and pH-sensitive polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers to investigate the kinetics of electrostatic self-assembly under UV irradiation. Using a custom in situ small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) setup, we track the real-time morphological transformations of self-assembled structures with sub-minute resolution. We introduce two distinct pathways: method A (pre-irradiated cis-AY38 for controlled, slow kinetics) and method B (direct UV-induced self-assembly, fast kinetics). The results reveal that trans-cis isomerization kinetics dictate the rate of self-assembly, influencing aggregate stability, ζ-potential evolution, and final morphology. Structural analysis using dynamic and static light scattering (DLS and SLS) and SANS elucidates a transition from spherical to ellipsoidal morphologies governed by electrostatic and dipole-dipole interactions. These findings establish photoisomerization-driven self-assembly as a robust mechanism for tunable nanoscale architectures, paving the way for adaptive photonic materials, targeted drug delivery, and reconfigurable nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=191214597
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/polym18020190
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 29
        StartPage: 190
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Photoisomerization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Molecular self-assembly
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polyamidoamine dendrimers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Structural dynamics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radiation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nanostructured materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Azobenzene derivatives
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Light-Induced Structural Evolutions in Electrostatic Nanoassemblies.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Agarwal, Mohit
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Schweins, Ralf
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gröhn, Franziska
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 15
              M: 01
              Text: Jan2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 20734360
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 18
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Polymers (20734360)
              Type: main
ResultId 1