Mixtures of mucin and oppositely charged surfactant aggregates with varying charge density. Phase behavior, association, and dynamics

The nonionic surfactant Tween80 is a commonly used excipient in drug formulations containing an active substance with low aqueous solubility. Model drug vehicles with varying charge density were obtained by mixing Tween80 (PS-80) with the cationic surfactant Tetradecyltrimethylammonium chloride (TTAC), thus forming mixed micelles. The micelles were mixed with the negatively charged polyelectrolyte mucin, which is a component in the protective mucus layer covering epithelial cell linings. Depending on the composition of the mixture, complex-formation could be followed by precipitation. Using X-ray diffraction, it was found that the precipitate contained a lamellar phase with properties sensitive to the proportion of PS-80. Higher amounts of PS-80 were found to oppose phase separation. Further analysis in the one-phase region, or alternatively of the supernatant of two-phase samples, by (1)H NMR, HPLC, and diffusion measurements with PGSE-NMR led to the conclusions that at low proportion of PS-80 aggregates composed of mixed (PS-80 and TTAC) micelles and mucin were formed, whereas increased concentrations of PS-80 favored the dissolution of the precipitate and limited the interactions between mixed micelles and the polymer.     

荧光法研究含长链烷基聚丙烯酰胺的疏水微区结构

荧光法研究含长链烷基聚丙烯酰胺的疏水微区结构邱星屏，张雪蓉，丁马太（厦门大学化学系，厦门，３６１００５）关键词萘酚，聚丙烯酰胺，疏水微区聚丙烯酰胺作为增粘剂和絮凝剂，已用于石油开采、水处理等领域［１］．在聚丙烯酰胺链上引进少量疏水侧基，可显著地改变其...     

Photophysical and Photochemical Processes in Micellar Systems

A fascinating feature inherent to aqueous surfactant solutions is the phenomenon of self-organization: above a certain critical concentration (the critical micelle concentration, CMC) detergent molecules associate spontaneously to build up structural entities of colloidal dimensions called micelles. The architecture of these agglomerates is such that the interior contains the hydrophobic alkyl chain of the amphiphile while the hydrophilic head groups are located at the surface and are in contact with bulk water. In the case of ionic micelles the interface is charged giving rise to an electrical double layer and a potential difference of up to several hundred millivolts between the micellar pseudophase and water. Thus micellar systems are microheterogeneous in character: the electrostatic potential and polarity prevailing in the interior of the aggregate differ from those of the bulk aqueous phase. A particularly attractive aspect of photochemical studies in micellar systems is the possibility of organizing the reactants at a molecular level: by comparison of the data in micelles with similar data in homogeneous solution one can learn about the molecular details of a given reaction and establish which conditions favor one pathway or another. In simple surfactant systems differences in rate and efficiency of a reaction will often be controlled by local electrostatic potentials and the compartmentalization of the reagents within the surfactant aggregates. Through the latter effect the statistics of probe distribution over the micelles becomes important in controlling fast photochemical events. Functional micelles are distinguished by the fact that the surfactant molecule contains a group which itself participates in the photoprocess. These units are unique in that self-assembly often introduces striking cooperative effects.     

Fate of excited probes in micellar systems

This article presents studies on the photophysical and photochemical behavior of probes within micellar systems: organized emulsifier/polymer aggregates; the intra- and interpolymer association of amphiphilic polymers; monomer-swollen micelles (microdroplets); and the interfacial layer. Pyrene (Py) as a probe is particularly attractive because of its ability to measure the polarity of its microenvironment. Dipyme yields information on the microviscosity of micellar systems. Probes such as laurdan and prodan can be used to explore the surface characteristics of micelles or microdroplets. The dansyl group has a special photophysical property that gives information about the local polarity and mobility (viscosity) of the microenvironment. The organized association of amphiphilic polymer and emulsifier introduces a heterogeneity in the local concentration of the reactants. This heterogeneity also results from the attractive interaction between hydrophilic monomer and emulsifier in the case when the monomer carries a positive charge and the counterpart a negative one, and vice versa. Some emulsifiers can bind to the amphiphilic copolymers by simple partitioning between the aqueous phase and the polymer--non-cooperative association. The interaction between micelles (microdroplets) and charged polymers leads to the formation of mixed micelles. Binding emulsifiers to these polymers was detected at emulsifier concentrations much below the critical micellar concentration (CMC). Emulsifiers often interact cooperatively with polymers at the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) below the CMC, forming micelle-like aggregates within the polymer. The CAC can be taken as a measure of interaction between the emulsifier and polymer. A decrease in the monomer fluorescence intensity of probe-labeled polymer results from increased excimer formation, or higher aggregates within the unimolecular polymeric micelles. An increase in the monomer fluorescence intensity of probe-labeled polymer within the micellar system can be ascribed to shielding of the probe chromophores by emulsifier micelles. The quenching of probe emission by (un)charged hydrophilic monomer depends on partitioning of the monomer between the aqueous phase and the micelles. Penetration of reactants into the interfacial layer determines the quenching of the hydrophobic probe by hydrophilic quencher, or vice versa. Quenching depends on the thickness, density and charge of the interfacial layer. Compartmentalization prevents the carbonyl compound and unsaturated monomer from coming into sufficiently close contact to allow singlet or triplet-monomer interaction. All negatively charged carbonyl probe molecules are quenched with significantly lower rates than the parent neutral hydrophobic benzophenone molecules, which were located further inside the aggregates. This results from the different conformation and allocation of reactants within the micellar system. In the reverse micelles, quenching depends on the amount of water in the interfacial layer and the total area of the water/oil interface.     

芘在Pluronic两亲嵌段共聚物胶团中的增溶

用稳态荧光法研究芘（Py）在Pluronic两亲嵌段共聚物胶团水溶液中的增溶,结果表明共聚物分子中的PPO实际含量越大,越有利于Py的增溶。加入无机盐KCl导致生成了表面较少水化的较大胶团,并且由于KCl解离产生的离子使溶剂极性增加,这些因素促进了Py的增溶。     

Joint solubilization of lipophilic drug amlodipine and glyceryl monolaurate in aqueous micellar solutions of Tween 80

The solubilization of lipophilic amlodipine (Am is a antihypertensive drug) and nonionic surfactant glyceryl monolaurate (GML is a skin permeation enhancer), as well as their joint solubilization (co-solubilization) have been measured by UV spectroscopy and refractometry in aqueous micellar solutions of Tween 80 (Tw). The properties of mixed micelles (Tw + GML, Tw + Am, Tw + GML + Am) have been studied, including the aggregation number of components, the localization of solubilizates, diffusion coefficients, the size and the degree of hydration. As a result of co-solubilization, (Tw + GML + Am) three-component micelles contain 4.2 times more molecules of the drug than (Tw + Am) two-component micelles. The experimental data on the kinetics of mass transfer of Am by micelles based on Tw are in good agreement with the calculations under diffusion theory; furthermore, three-component micelles carry Am more effectively than two-component micelles.     

Diffusions of β-cyclodextrins in mucus studied by <Superscript>19</Superscript>F diffusion NMR

β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) based materials have been widely used as drug carriers for pharmaceutical applications. To understand the diffusion of β-CDs in mucus is important for selecting β-CD based drug carriers for applications targeting mucosal absorption because the surfaces of many biological membranes are covered with a highly viscous aqueous mucus layer which forms relatively effective diffusion barriers for drugs. In this study, ¹⁹F self-diffusion NMR technique has been applied to study the self-diffusions of β-CDs in mucus. The ¹⁹F NMR signals arose from 1-fluoroadamantane molecules entrapped in the cavities of β-CDs. The diffusive abilities of different β-CDs in mucus were assessed through analyzing the diffusion coefficients using the presented kinetic model, and Ogston’s and Renkin’s diffusion models for hydrogel systems. The kinetic results show that 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD and 2-Carboxyethyl-β-CD have the smallest binding affinities to bovine submaxillary mucin and human nasal mucin among five tested β-CDs. The mesh sizes of the bovine submaxillary mucus at different concentrations and that of the human nasal mucus were evaluated using the diffusion models. We hope that this ¹⁹F diffusion method will be useful to study the diffusion of β-CD based materials in other biological systems.     

The nature of the micellar stern region as studied by reaction kinetics. 2

The nature of rate-retarding effects of cationic micelles on the water-catalyzed hydrolyses of a series of para-substituted 1-benzoyl-1,2,4-triazoles (1a-f) and 1-benzoyl-3-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole (2) has been studied using kinetic methods. A comparison is drawn between medium effects in the micellar Stern region and in model solutions for the micellar Stern region. Simple model solutions involving concentrated aqueous solutions of a small ionic molecule resembling the surfactant headgroup, as reported before,(1) were improved. New model solutions for alkyltrimethylammonium bromide micelles contain both tetramethylammonium bromide (TMAB), mimicking micellar headgroups, and 1-propanol, mimicking hydrophobic tails. The rate-retarding effect of micelles on the hydrolysis of 1a-f and 2 is caused by the high concentration of headgroups as well as by hydrophobic tails in the Stern region where 1a-f and 2 bind to the micelle. Individual contributions of these interactions are quantified. Rate-retarding effects found for different probes, with different sensitivities for interactions as they occur when the probe binds to the micellar Stern region, as well as the micellar Stern region's micropolarity as reported by the E(T)(30) probe, are satisfactorily reproduced by new model solutions containing both TMAB and 1-propanol.     

SOLUBILIZATION SITES AND ACID-BASE FORMS OF DIBUCAINE-HYDROCHLORIDE IN NEUTRAL AND CHARGED MICELLAR SOLUTIONS

Steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopic techniques have been employed to characterize the drug species of dibucaine and to identify its location in micellar Triton X-100 (neutral), hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (cationic) and lithium dodecyl sulfate (anionic) solutions at 77 K. Under physiological conditions, the dibucaine is shown to exist in the free base form (D) while solubilized in the hydrocarbon core of neutral micelles. In cationic micellar solution, dibucaine exists as the monocation species (DH+) where the anesthetic is solubilized in the extramicellar aqueous solution and D is solubilized in the hydrophobic region with close proximity to the micellar interface. In the anionic micelles, interfacial solubilization is most consistent with a site in which the tertiary amino group of the monocation dibucaine (DH+) is anchored at the micellar interface with its quinoline analog penetrating the hydrophobic region. The distinct properties observed for the drug species (i.e. D and DH+) and their solubilization sites in micelles are consistent with a balance between hydrophobic forces, surface polarity and the interfacial electrostatic potential present in the micellar solubilization sites. These observations could lend insight into the molecular basis of pharmacological action, in particular the mechanism of local anesthetic drug transport across membranes.     

N-异丙基丙烯酰胺/丙烯酸胆甾醇酯共聚物研究

合成和表征了N 异丙基丙烯酰胺 (NIPAM)与丙烯酸胆甾醇酯 (CHA)的共聚物 .利用表面张力和荧光探针法研究了共聚物水溶液的表面活性性能 ,确定了其临界胶束浓度 (CMC) .利用浊度法和荧光探针法测定了共聚物的最低临界溶液温度 (LCST) .研究发现 ,在聚N 异丙基丙烯酰胺 (PNIPAM)分子链中引入疏水结构单元CHA会使其LCST下降 ;且随着共聚物中CHA含量的增加 ,LCST下降幅度增加 .在PNIPAM链段中引入少量的CHA就会使其表现出明显的两亲性 ,共聚物在水中能形成有壳核结构的稳定胶束 .通过将疏水化合物胆甾醇作为模拟药物包埋在胶束的疏水核中的研究 ,证实所得的胶束能包埋疏水药物 ,且随着包埋胆甾醇含量的增加 ,胶束平均粒径增大 .     

Interphase Transport in a Salicylic Acid Emulsion

Selected pairs of phases in the system, not in equilibrium, were brought into contact and the transport between them was evaluated from the changes in volumes with time. The results showed the rate determining factors to be the extremely slow absorption of compounds into the solid acid layer and of water into the surfactant inverse micellar solution. The former factor was referred to the protracted process of modifying the crystalline structure and the latter to the minute diffusion coefficient of the inverse micelles. In the same manner the contact between the lamellar phase liquid crystalline phase and a solid solution of the surfactant in the acid led to the formation of two inverse micellar solutions of different composition separated by a liquid crystalline layer instead of the expected aqueous liquid and one inverse micellar solution, which appeared first after significantly extended times. The equilibration was significantly retarded by the slow diffusion of acid molecules through one of the liquid layers.     

Molecular probe location in reverse micelles determined by NMR dipolar interactions

The location and interactions of solutes in microheterogeneous environments, such as reverse micelles, critically influence understanding of many phenomena that utilize probe molecules to characterize properties in chemical, biological, and physical systems. The information gained in such studies depends substantially on the location of the probe used. Often, intuition leads to the assumption that ionic probe molecules reside in the polar water pool of a system. In this work, the location of a charged polar transition metal coordination complex in a reverse micellar system is determined using NMR spectroscopy. Despite the expected Coulomb repulsion between the surfactant headgroups and the negatively charged complex, the complex spends significant time penetrating into the hydrophobic portion of the reverse micellar interface. These results challenge the assumption that ionic probe molecules reside solvated by water in microheterogeneous environments and suggest that probe molecule location be carefully considered before interpreting data from similar systems.     

Photolysis of 1,2-dihydroquinolines in micellar solutions of anionic and cationic surfactants

The kinetics of the photolysis of substituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines (DHQ) in micellar solutions was studied by steady-state and flash photolysis. The photolysis mechanism depends dramatically on the location of DHQ molecules in micelles, which is governed by the surfactant nature. In micellar solutions of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), where the DHQ molecules are located in the Stern layer, the intermediate species decay kinetics follows a first-order law. When DHQ is in neutral form (pH 4–12), the rate constant of the intermediate carbocation decay increases from 25 to 198 s^?1 with an increasing concentration of DHQ in micelles. The positive micellar catalysis is caused by the acceleration of the final product formation with the DHQ molecule via proton abstraction from the intermediate cation. The formation of several types of intermediate species—carbocations in the aqueous phase and aminyl radicals in micelles—is observed in micellar solutions of the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) due to the preferential location of DHQ molecules in the micellar core. The carbocation decays via a pseudofirst-order reaction with a rate constant close to that in the aqueous solution. The lifetime of the DHQ aminyl radicals in the micellar solutions is longer by several orders of magnitude than the lifetime observed for homogeneous solutions of hydrocarbons and alcohols.     

Do ionic and hydrophobic probes sense similar microenvironment in Triton X-100 nonionic reverse micelles?

Rotational diffusion of two structurally similar ionic probes, rhodamine 110 and fluorescein, has been examined in nonionic reverse micellar system of Triton X-100/benzene-n-hexane/water as a function of mole ratio of the water to surfactant, W. This study has been undertaken to find out whether ionic and hydrophobic probes experience similar microenvironment in these reverse micelles. Experimental results indicate that, from W=0 to 3, the average reorientation time, which is a measure of the microviscosity experienced by the probe molecule, increases by 90% and 40% for rhodamine 110 and fluorescein, respectively, and from W=3 to 8, it decreases by 20% for both the probes. The increase in the average reorientation time with W has been rationalized on the basis of the flexible oxyethylene chains of the TX-100 surfactant being hydrogen bonded by the water molecules, which makes the core region less fluid. However, once the hydration of the oxyethylene chains is complete, further addition of water results in formation of water droplet; which renders the micelle-water interface in the core region less compact leading to a marginal decrease in the average reorientation time of the probe molecules. These explanations are consistent with the location of the probes and the structure of the Triton X-100/benzene-hexane/water reverse micelles. To compare how the microenvironment experienced by these ionic probes is different from the hydrophobic ones, results from our earlier work [J. Phys. Chem. B 108, 7944 (2004)] have been considered. Such a comparison revealed that both ionic and hydrophobic probes experience similar microenvironment in these reverse micelles until the hydration of the oxyethylene chains is complete. In case of hydrophobic probes, however, the onset of water droplet formation does not alter their microenvironment, which is due to their location in the reverse micellar cores.     

Structure and properties of aqueous dispersions of sodium dodecyl sulfate with carbon nanotubes

The dispersing action of the surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) on the carbon nanotubes (CNT) in aqueous medium has been studied. Electron microscopy, molecular docking, NMR and IR spectroscopies were applied to determine the physical-chemical properties of CNT dispersions in SDS—water solutions. It was established that micellar adsorption of the surfactant on the surface of carbon material and solubilization of SDS in aqueous medium contribute to improving CNT dispersing in water solutions. It was shown that the non-polar hydrocarbon radicals of a single surfactant molecule form the highest possible number of contacts with the graphene surface. Upon increase of the SDS in solution these radicals form micelles connected with the surface of the nanotubes. At the sufficiently high SDS concentration the nanotube surface becomes covered with an adsorbed layer of surfactant micelles. Water molecules and sodium cations are concentrated in spaces between micelles. The observed pattern of micellar adsorption is somewhat similar to a loose bilayer of surfactant molecules.     

芘从H_2O/DMF混合溶剂向聚苯乙烯/聚丙烯酸二嵌段共聚物平头胶团增溶(Ⅱ)

混合溶剂水含量强烈影响芘从Ｈ２Ｏ／ＤＭＦ混合溶剂向聚苯乙烯／ 聚丙烯酸二嵌段共聚物平头胶团的增溶,随着水含量增加而明显增大了芘和胶团内核ＰＳ间的结合力,促进了芘的增溶。实验结果表明,增加混合溶剂极性组分是实现有效增溶的一种简便方法。     

SDS对SB3-12胶束表面电荷密度的调控作用及对药物增溶的影响

两性离子甜菜碱表面活性剂(SB3-12)胶束具有较好的生物相容性,由于相反电荷的极性头之间具有静电中和作用,胶束表面具有小的负电荷密度。当加入阴离子的十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)以后,负离子SD-与SB3-12胶束极性区内层季铵正电荷的静电中和作用,能连续地调节胶束表面磺酸基的负电荷密度,这有利于对药物分子的选择性增溶和调节在生理条件下的药物的输送。等温滴定量热(ITC)研究发现SB3-12和SDS有强的协同效应,混合临界胶束浓度(CMC)和胶束化焓明显降低,并得到两者协同效应的弱静电作用机理。当模型药物分子芦丁(Rutin)与SB3-12/SDS混合胶束作用时,芦丁7位羟基的氢解离后的阴离子与SDS共同作用于SB3-12形成混合胶束。UV-Vis吸收光谱和~1H NMR谱研究发现,在SB3-12胶束中,芦丁分子的A环位于季铵阳离子附近,B环位于两个相反电荷之间的弱极性区域。在SDS胶束中,B环位于栅栏层,而A环和二糖暴露于水相侧。在混合胶束中,随着SDS摩尔分数增加,对A环的静电吸引变弱。离子表面活性剂对两性离子表面活性剂胶束表面电荷密度的调节作用,本质上是对胶束极性区域的物理及化学性质的微调,进而实现对药物的可控增溶。     

Specific interactions improve the loading capacity of block copolymer micelles in aqueous media

Block copolymer micelles find application in many fields as nanocarriers, especially in drug delivery. We report herein that specific interactions between hydrophobic guest molecules and core-forming segments can significantly improve the loading capacity of polymeric micelles. High loading capacities (>100% weight/weight of polymer (w/wp)) were systematically observed for the encapsulation of probes containing weak carboxylic acid groups by micellar nanoparticles having poly[2-(dialkylamino)ethyl methacrylate] cores (i.e., particles whose cargo space exhibits antagonist weak base functions), as demonstrated by the incorporation of indomethacin (IND), ibuprofen (IBPF), and trans-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)cinnamic acid (F-CIN) into either poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PEO-b-PDPA) or poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)-b-PDPA (PG2MA-b-PDPA) micelles. The esterification of IND yielding to a nonionizable IND ethyl ester derivative (IND-Et) caused an abrupt decrease in the micellar loading capacity down to 10-15% w/wp. Similar results were also obtained when IND was combined with nonionizable block copolymers such as PEO-b-polycaprolactone (PEO-b-PCL) and PEO-b-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PEO-b-PGMA). The existence of acid-base interactions between the solubilizate and the weak polybase block forming the micelle core was confirmed by 1H NMR measurements. However, the incorporation of high numbers of hydrophobic guest molecules inside polymeric micelles can provoke not only an increase in the hydrodynamic size (2RH) of the objects but also a substantial change in the morphology (transition from spheres to cylinders). The application of the Higuchi model showed that the probe release followed a diffusion-controlled mechanism, and diffusion coefficients (D) on the order of 10-18-10-17 cm2/s were determined for IND release from 1.0 mg/mL PEO113-b-PDPA50 + 100% w/wp IND. Probe release from micelles with weak polybase-based cores can also be triggered by changes in the solution pH.     

Selective transport of amino acids into the gas phase: driving forces for amino acid solubilization in gas-phase reverse micelles

We report a study on encapsulation of various amino acids into gas-phase sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (NaAOT) reverse micelles, using electrospray ionization guided-ion-beam tandem mass spectrometry. Collision-induced dissociation of mass-selected reverse micellar ions with Xe was performed to probe structures of gas-phase micellar assemblies, identify solute-surfactant interactions, and determine preferential incorporation sites of amino acids. Integration into gas-phase reverse micelles depends upon amino acid hydrophobicity and charge state. For examples, glycine and protonated amino acids (such as protonated tryptophan) are encapsulated within the micellar core via electrostatic interactions; while neutral tryptophan is adsorbed in the surfactant layer. As verified using model polar hydrophobic compounds, the hydrophobic effect and solute-interface hydrogen-bonding do not provide sufficient driving force needed for interfacial solubilization of neutral tryptophan. Neutral tryptophan, with a zwitterionic structure, is intercalated at the micellar interface between surfactant molecules through complementary effects of electrostatic interactions between tryptophan backbone and AOT polar heads, and hydrophobic interactions between tryptophan side chain and AOT alkyl tails. Protonation of tryptophan could significantly improve its incorporation capacity into gas-phase reverse micelles, and displace its incorporation site from the micellar interfacial zone to the core; protonation of glycine, on the other hand, has little effect on its encapsulation capacity. Another interesting observation is that amino acids of different isoelectric points could be selectively encapsulated into, and transported by, reverse micelles from solution to the gas phase, based upon their competition for protonation and subsequent encapsulation within the micellar core.     

Unimolecular micelles: Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic polymer systems

Unimolecular micelles were successfully synthesized from mucic acid, fatty acids, and poly(ethylene glycols) to create biocompatible polymers. These polymers consist of a core‐shell structure that resembles conventional micellar structures but with significant thermodynamic stability in aqueous media. The core of the polymers provide a hydrophobic environment for drug encapsulation via hydrophobic interactions, whereas the shell provides excellent water solubility. The polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and mass spectroscopies, as well as gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric and elemental analyses. Encapsulation ability was measured using high‐pressure liquid chromatography to monitor lidocaine, a hydrophobic molecule. Encapsulation capabilities increased as lipophilicity of the core increased. To verify that encapsulation was caused by individual unimolecular micelles, surface tension and dynamic light scattering measurements were performed. The results indicated that these unimolecular micelles have great potential as drug carriers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 703–711, 1999