Shear-induced color transition of PDA (polydiacetylene) liposome in polymeric solutions

The polydiacethylene (PDA) is known to change its color by mechanical shear. The shear-induced color transition has been reported with elastomer or film type of PDA. In this paper, we newly investigated the transition with liposome type of PDAs in polymeric solutions. The liposomes were dispersed in Poly(vinyl alcohol) 2% + Sodium borate 1%, Poly(vinyl alcohol) 15% and Hyaluronic acid 1% (PVA/B, PVA, HA). The shear stress was continuously imposed to each solution by stress control type rheometer with coni-cylinder fixture. The degree of color transition was quantified with the characteristic absorbance peak at 540 nm (blue) and 640 nm (red). As a result, PDA liposome in PVA/B solution changed the color from blue to red upon increasing the magnitude of shear (from 0 to 100 Pa) and the duration of shear-imposed time (from 0 to 5400 sec). Meanwhile, PDA liposome in HA or PVA solution did not noticeably change the color, even though the low shear viscosities of the solutions were kept almost constant. This color transition of PDA liposome is expected to measure the magnitude of shear, and to distinguish different responses of polymeric solutions to the applied shear.