Azobenzene polymer network, and uses thereof for biofilm removal and control over cell attachment
Disclosed methods include formulating azobenzene-based polymer networks to induce a modulus change in a highly crosslinked polymer, in vivo, with no external heat requirement and using a benign light as the source of stimuli. A modulus change can be achieved via a coating on the substrate and within the bulk of the substrate via photoexposure. The azobenzene-based polymer network can be formed as a coating or in the bulk of a material from either a glassy composition comprising methyl methacrylate (MMA), poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) or a soft material comprising of long-chain difunctional acrylates. The disclosed technology also includes methods of biofilm disruption and removal from the surface of a substrate, and includes methods of inhibiting biofilm growth and cell attachment to a substrate.
1. A method comprising:
polymerizing an azobenzene (AZO)-based polymer network from a composition comprising AZO and forming an AZO-based system comprising the AZO-based polymer network and a base substrate; and
irradiating the AZO-based system to initiate mechanical oscillation due to trans-cis-trans isomerization and/or photofluidization of the AZO-based polymer network to disrupt any film present on a surface of the base substrate and/or inhibit formation of any film on the surface of the base substrate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base substrate comprises at least one of methyl methacrylate (MMA), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA).
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
covalently tethering the AZO-based polymer network to the base substrate with a thermal initiator and acrylated AZO.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the AZO-based system comprises polymerizing the AZO-based polymer network to form a glassy AZO-based system.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein forming the AZO-based system comprises:
drop casting the AZO-based polymer network as a surface coating on the base substrate; and
thermally curing the surface coating.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AZO-based polymer network is polymerized via UV or thermal free-radical initiated polymerization.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base substrate is a part of a surgical instrument, a dental device, or a wound dressing.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base substrate is a part of industrial equipment for food, fermentation equipment, or equipment for a water treatment system.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base substrate is part of an ocular lens.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base substrate is a dental surface being a tooth, a sealed tooth, a denture, a composite, or a sealed composite.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the film being disrupted and/or inhibited from formation is a biofilm.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the film being disrupted and/or inhibited from formation comprises cells.