Resumen:
e report the synthesis and characterization of a simple non-ionic Azoamphiphile, C12OazoE3OH which behaves as an optically-controlled molecule alone and in a biomembrane-environment. First, Langmuir monolayer and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) experiments showed that pure C12OazoE3OH enriched in the (E) isomer was able to form solid-like mesophase even at low surface pressure associated with supramolecular organization of the azobenzene derivative at the interface. On the other hand, pure C12OazoE3OH enriched in the (Z) isomer formed a less solid-like monolayer due to the bent geometry around the azobenzene moiety. Second, C12OazoE3OH is wellmixed in a biological membrane model, Lipoids75TM (up to 20 %mol), and photoisomerization among the lipids proceeded smoothly depending on light conditions. It is proposed that the crosssectionalarea of the hydroxyl triethylenglycol head of C12OazoE3OH inhibits azobenzenes Haggregation in the model membrane, thus the tails conformation change due