Synthesis and Investigation of Light Trigger Smart Nanogels Based on Azobenzene

Nanogels are nanoparticles composed of three-dimensional cross-linked networks. Smart nanogels can respond to physiological changes such as temperature and external stimuli such as light and release a controlled amount of the drug. Light is an intriguing stimulant, whose intensity is easily tunable and it can be utilized by temporal and spatial control, therefore using light as a stimulant has many advantages over other stimulants. Herein we report a light-responsive nanogel based on azobenzene and methylmethacrylate and examined the release agent in presence of ultraviolet irradiation. We have demonstrated that nanogels can shrinkage in the presence of UV light. The preparation of nanogel was studied using scanning electron microscopy.