Nitric oxide photoreleasing multilayer films

In this contribution we report the preparation and characterization of Langmuir-Schafer (LS) multilayer films of a mesogen-bearing cationic amphiphile able to release nitric oxide (NO) under the exclusive control of light stimuli. The morphology and spectroscopic features of the floating films at the water-air interface are inspected by Brewster angle microscopy and UV-Vis reflection spectroscopy, respectively. Multilayer films are obtained by horizontal lifting deposition onto hydrophobized quartz substrates and characterized by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The capability of these films to deliver NO is investigated by the direct monitoring of this radical species through an ultrasensitive NO electrode. The results obtained unequivocally demonstrate that the multilayers are stable in the dark but, in contrast, supply NO at nanomolar level upon illumination with visible light. RI Sortino, Salvatore/E-4684-2011