Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials

Functional polymers having a programmed response to light have emerged as promising materials of interest in different applications mainly related with optical technologies or light triggered delivery systems. The design of photoresponsive polymers requires of photosensitive moieties that might go through any modification on their chemical structure by irradiation with proper light. Polymers based on coumarin, ortho-nitrobenzyl, spyropyran or azobenzene derivatives are representative examples of these materials. Initial research was boosted by the envisaged applications on optical storage, although recent applications on actuators for soft robotics or light controlled and triggered drug-delivery of polymeric nanocontainers have attracted attention of polymer and materials research community.