Abstract
The isomerisation of azo dyes can induce conformational changes which have potential applications in medicine and environmental protection. We developed an agar diffusion assay to test the capture and release of biologically active molecules from an azo electro-optic polymer, Poly (Disperse Red 1 methacrylate) (DR1/PMMA). The assay monitors the growth of bacteria placed in soft agar under a glass coverslip. Antibiotics can then be applied on the coverslip resulting in the clearance of the area under the coverslip due to growth inhibition. This assay demonstrates that DR1/PMMA is able to capture either tetracycline or ampicillin and the relative amount of DR1/PMMA required for capture was determined. Finally, the active antibiotics can be released from DR1/PMMA by exposure to green laser light. Exposure to white light from a torch or to heat does not release the antibiotic.
Highlights
The isomerisation of azo dyes can induce conformational changes which have potential applications in medicine and environmental protection
An agar diffusion assay was first developed to be able to monitor the growth of bacteria placed in soft agar under a glass coverslip
We suggest that a photo-induced spinodal decomposition happens during illumination[17], which expels the antibiotic from the entangled DR1/ PMMA polymer chains into the water of the assay
Summary
The isomerisation of azo dyes can induce conformational changes which have potential applications in medicine and environmental protection. We developed an agar diffusion assay to test the capture and release of biologically active molecules from an azo electro-optic polymer, Poly (Disperse Red 1 methacrylate) (DR1/PMMA). Antibiotics can be applied on the coverslip resulting in the clearance of the area under the coverslip due to growth inhibition. This assay demonstrates that DR1/PMMA is able to capture either tetracycline or ampicillin and the relative amount of DR1/PMMA required for capture was determined. Under various light irradiation, -N = N- azo groups change from their trans to their cis conformations. A biological assay is designed to test the ability of DR1/PMMA to capture and release biologically active molecules. Ampicillin and tetracycline are polar molecules that can form hydrogen bonds with DR1/PPMA7,8
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