Azopolysiloxanes Modified with Nucleobases: 1. Thermal Characterization of some Nanostructurable Materials with Potential Application in Biology GABRIELA LISA RAMONA ENEA NICOLAI HURDUC 1 , ‘Gh. Asachi’ Technical University Iasi, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, B-dul D. Mangeron 71, Iasi-700050, Romania NATALIA HURDUC ‘Al. I. Cuza’ University Iasi, Faculty of Chemistry, B-dul Carol I, No. 11, 700506, Iasi, Romania (Received 18 February 2008 accepted 5 May 2008) Abstract: New azopolysiloxanes modified with nucleobases with potential application in biology were synthesized and their thermal stability was evaluated. These types of materials can present two possible applications: obtaining of films with nanostructured surface that may be used in cell directional develop- ment control and in biomolecular binding and nanohandling. Both applications involve, however, material interaction with laser beams, which require a series of precautions with regard to polymer thermal stability. We considered it essential to perform very thorough thermal stability studies that would provide accurate information concerning the lowest temperature at which thermal degradation occurred. Some correlations between structure–thermal stability were derived. Key Words: Azopolysiloxanes, nucleobases, thermal stability 1. INTRODUCTION Inspired by the living world, with self organizing biological systems (DNA helix and col- lagen triple helix formation, virus assembly, etc), researchers have tried to obtain synthetic systems, based on the physical interactions between component entities. The five nucle- obases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine and uracil) are involved in the self-assembly High Performance Polymers, 00: 000–000, 2008 DOI:10.1177/0954008308093941  2008 SAGE Publications High Performance Polymers OnlineFirst, published on October 13, 2008 as doi:10.1177/0954008308093941