Photophysical and light scattering studies on the aggregation behaviour of Triton X-100 in formamide—water mixed solvents

Micelle formation and structure of the non-ionic surfactant p-tert-octyl-phenoxy (9.5) polyethylene ether (Triton X-100) in mixed solvents consisting of water and formamide have been investigated. Changes in the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant upon the addition of formamide were examined by using the pyrene 1:3 ratio method. The observed increase in the critical micelle concentration was attributed to a rise in the solubility of the surfactant as the formamide content increased in the solvent system. Micelle structure parameters were obtained as a function of the co-solvent concentration by using combined static and dynamic light scattering measurements. It was found that the decrease in the micelle size, produced by the addition of formamide, is mainly due to a reduction in the mean aggregation number rather than to changes in the magnitude of the whole solvation of micelles. This fact was also supported by the observed trend in the partial specific volume of the TX-100 micelles, obtained by complementary density measurements. However, the postulated changes in the composition of the solvation layer of micelles were supported by the rise in both the surface area per head group and the cloud point of the surfactant. From the photophysical response of different fluorescent probes incorporated in the micellar phase, we obtained information on the changes in the microstructure of Triton X-100 micelles upon the addition of formamide. The pyrene 1:3 ratio index revealed an increasing micropolarity as the formamide content increases in the solvent system. On the other hand, studies based on both fluorescence polarization of coumarin 6 and intermolecular pyrene excimer formation have shown that the microviscosity of Triton X-100 decreases with the presence of co-solvent. These results were interpreted on the basis of considerable contact of the co-solvent with the inner region of the micelles.     

稳态荧光探针法研究槐糖脂生物表面活性剂的胶束化行为

应用稳态荧光探针法测定了非离子生物表面活性剂槐糖内脂临界胶束浓度(CMC)和胶束聚集数(N_agg),并考察了添加无机电解质和短链脂肪醇对槐糖内酯CMC的影响。结果表明,槐糖内酯的CMC为1.3×10-4 mol·L-1,并随加入电解质浓度的升高而略有降低,外加短链脂肪则使其CMC值升高;在4~8倍的CMC浓度范围内,槐糖内酯溶液N_agg随其浓度增大而增大,但胶束聚集数较小,为4~8个;激光纳米粒径结果显示槐糖内酯胶束动态直径较大且分布较为集中,平均约为90 nm。槐糖内酯胶束具有聚集数小而直径大的特点,表明该生物表面活性剂所形成的胶束排列较为松弛。     

硫杂杯[4]芳烃基胶束自组装荧光探针的结构性质及检测性能的研究

水体中重金属污染因威胁生态环境和人类健康而被受广泛关注。荧光探针由于具有快速高效检测重金属的特性,一直是该领域的研究热点。通常,荧光探针在结构上包括对待测物质起识别作用的受体和能产生信号响应的荧光体,并逐步形成了内在型、共轭型、系综型和模板辅助自组装型等四种结构类型。近年来,基于受体和荧光体在表面活性剂胶束内自组装而形成的胶束自组装型荧光探针因结构简单、易于制备、能直接应用于水环境等特点逐渐受到重视。以对铜离子具有优异结合性能的对叔丁基硫杂杯[4]芳烃（TCA）为受体,以芘、荧蒽、蒽、菲、苝等分子为荧光体,通过表面活性剂胶束自组装制备针对Cu2+检测的胶束自组装型荧光探针,采用参比法测定了胶束自组装荧光探针的荧光量子产率,采用稳态荧光法测定了胶束聚集数,同时通过计算荧光猝灭率分别考察了荧光体种类、复配表面活性剂等因素对该探针的Cu2+检测性能的影响情况。实验结果显示,采用十二烷基硫酸钠（SDS）、曲拉通100（TX-100）、聚氧乙烯月桂醚（Brij35）等三种不同的表面活性剂对探针荧光体的荧光量子产率产生了明显影响,测得的荧光探针荧光量子产率介于0.25~0.47,且三者逐渐增大,说明表面活性剂改变了胶束内荧光分子芘所处微环境的极性,且不同类型表面活性剂对微环境极性的影响程度有所差异,微环境极性的增强对极性更大的激发态芘具有更强的稳定作用。而受体TCA的加入对荧光体所处微环境极性影响较小,未对荧光量子产率产生较大影响。但TCA的加入使探针的胶束聚集数明显减少,这归因于具有两亲性的受体TCA分子通过胶束自组装进入并分散在表面活性剂分子层中,形成共胶束结构,从而改变了表面活性剂分子的聚集状态。荧光体变更对荧光探针的Cu2+检测性能有显著影响,在同样条件下,以荧蒽、蒽、菲作为荧光体的探针检测Cu2+所得到的荧光猝灭率远高于芘、苝,这主要是因为不同荧光体在从激发态返回基态时辐射跃迁所释放能量不同,其能量与受体TCA识别Cu2+所需能量之间的匹配度越高,荧光猝灭率越大。不同类型的表面活性剂之间的复配能明显提升荧光探针检测性能,当非离子/阴离子、非离子/阳离子型复配表面活性剂之间的复配比例分别为7∶3和1∶1时荧光猝灭率达到最大值,且均高于单一表面活性剂时的荧光猝灭率。这说明不同类型表面活性剂复配的最佳比例存在较大差异,但均有效地增强了受体与荧光体的分散性及自组装性能,提高了对Cu2+的检测性能。研究结果将为新型胶束自组装荧光探针的设计和应用提供数据参考。     

Micellar effects on the molecular aggregation and fluorescence properties of benzazole-derived push-pull butadienes

The absorption and fluorescence spectral behaviour of 1-(2-benzoxazolyl)-4-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)buta-1,3-diene and its benzothiazolyl analogue (abbreviated as BODB and BTDB, respectively) have been investigated in dioxane-water mixtures and micellar environments using steady-state techniques. In water, water-rich mixtures or premicellar solutions, BODB and BTDB tend to form molecular aggregates labelled as H-aggregates. These aggregates dissociate on adding surfactants forming micellized monomers. In all micellar media the fluorescence quantum yield is greatly enhanced along with a large hypsochromic shift. Also, in TX-100, CTAB and SDS both dienes show dual emission from the locally excited (LE) and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) states. For BTDB in TX-100 and DODB in all solutions, the LE fluorescence predominates, while for BTDB in CTAB and SDS, the ICT fluorescence is the predominant. The fluorescence shifts suggest that the fluorescing molecules penetrate the core of the micellar unit in TX-100, whereas in CTAB and SDS they occupy the interfacial region. The binding constants and the micelle properties (such as polarity and CMC) have been determined using both dienes as probes.     

Spectroscopic investigations on the interaction of an anionic probe with nonionic micelles of Igepal surfactants in aqueous media

The behaviour of the anionic dye 8-anilino-1-napthalenesulfonic acid ammonium salt, or ANS, in aqueous solutions containing the Igepal series of polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactants was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopic technique. The interactions of the dye with the nonionic surfactants were examined in micellar media, to prevent dye aggregate formation and to ensure maximum dye and surfactant interaction. From the relative fluorescence enhancements, binding constants of the dye to the surfactant micelles and aggregation numbers of the micelles were determined. The aggregation numbers were also separately determined by static fluorescence quenching of pyrene by cetylpyridinium chloride in aqueous surfactant mixtures at a fixed concentration of surfactant, and compared with the value obtained from the present investigation of the interaction of the micelles with the ANS probe. The values of binding constants, micropolarity values sensed by pyrene and the Stern–Volmer constants for quenching of pyrene fluorescence by cetylpyridinium chloride were correlated with the number of ethylene oxide groups in the Igepal series.     

Modulation of Intramolecular Charge Transfer Emission Inside Micelles: A Fluorescence Probe for Studying Microenvironment of Micellar Assemblies

Modulation of intramolecular charge transfer reaction of ethyl ester of N,N-Dimethylaminonaphthyl-(acrylic)-acid (EDMANA) in anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and non-ionic p-tert-octylphenoxy polyoxyethanol (Triton-X 100, TX-100) micelles has been addressed using steady state and time resolved spectroscopy. The interaction of the CT probe EDMANA with micelles and its location inside the micelles have been investigated by the study of fluorescence spectral band position of EDMANA in micelle, the effective polarity of micelle-water interface and cetyl pyridinium chloride induced fluorescence quenching measurement. The effects of urea on the properties of the micelles such as Critical Micelle Concentration and the interaction between EDMANA and micelles have been explored using EDMANA as emission probe.     

Monitoring Micelle Formation of Nonionic Polyurethane in Water by Fluorescence Spectrophotometry

A series of nonionic polyurethanes were dissolved in water and their miceller self-assembly behaviors were characterized by aid of a fluorescence spectrophotometer. Fluorescence and resonance light scattering techniques were carried out for characterizing the micelles, and information such as aggregation number, critical micelle concentration, micropolarity, and micelle volume change was obtained. The micropolarity decreased as the aggregation number increased. The nonionic polyurethane micelle volume with two long ethoxyl chains per polyurethane molecule was smaller than the one with short chains, even with the same aggregation number, and was less polar. The micropolarity depended on both the aggregation number and the volume of a single micelle.     

A thermodynamic and photophysical study of the effects of thiourea on the micellar properties of aqueous sodium dodecyl sulphate solution

The micellar properties of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) in aqueous thiourea solutions were investigated with the aim of studying the effect of thiourea on these properties. The critical micelle concentrations (cmc) and the degree of dissociation of the micelle were determined by the conductometric method over the temperature range 298–323 K for different concentrations of thiourea. The cmc values of the surfactant in the presence of thiourea were obtained by following the change in the relative intensities of vibrational fine structure of the pyrene fluorescence spectra. The aggregation numbers were determined by employing the static quenching fluorescence method. The cmc values in the presence of varying electrolyte concentrations (NaCl) were obtained with 8-anilinonaphthalene 1-sulphonate (ANS) as a fluorescence probe, and from these values the degree of dissociation was calculated. The mass action model was applied in the present study to obtain various thermodynamic parameters of micellization. All these properties were compared with the micellar properties of an aqueous urea/SDS system, and it was found that thiourea is a better demicellization agent.     

Spectrofluorimetric Determination of Second Critical Micellar Concentration of SDS and SDS/Brij 30 Systems

Potentially useful stead-state fluorimetric technique was used to determine the critical micellar concentrations (CMC(1) and CMC(2)) for two micellar media, one formed by SDS and the other by SDS/Brij 30. A comparative study based on conductimetric and surfacial tension measurements suggests that the CMC(1) estimated by the fluorimetric method is lower than the value estimated by these other techniques. Equivalent values were observed for SDS micelles without Brij 30 neutral co-surfactant. The use of acridine orange as fluorescent probe permitted to determine both CMC(1) and CMC(2). Based on it an explanation on aspects of micelle formation mechanism is presented, particularly based on a spherical and a rod like structures.     

Aggregation and microenvironmental properties of gemini and conventional mixed surfactants systems: A fluorometric study

Aggregation behavior of cationic gemini (hexanediyl-1,5-bis(dimethylcettylammonium bromide) (16-5-16)) surfactant with conventional single chain surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) were studied with the help of fluorescence measurements. Fluorescence probe is a proficient technique for examining the surfactant-surfactant interaction and aggregation. The micelle aggregation number (N _agg) was measured using steady-state fluorescence quenching method. The micelle aggregation numbers of binary combinations fall between those of constituent surfactants. The micropolarity (I ₁/I ₃), binding constant (K _sv) and dielectric constant (D _exp) of mixed systems were determined from the ratio of peaks intensity in the pyrene fluorescence spectrum. The I ₁/I ₃ values were found to be more than >1, showing more polar environment around pyrene in the mixed micelle as compared to the pure micelles.     

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer from TX-100 to 3-acetyl-4-oxo-6,7-dihydro-12H-indolo-[2,3-a]quinolizine in premicellar and micellar environments

Fluorescence (Förster) resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the phenyl groups of the non-ionic triton X-100 (TX-100) micelles to a potent bioactive molecule 3-acetyl-4-oxo-6,7-dihydro-12H-indolo-[2,3-a] quinolizine (AODIQ) has been studied using steady state absorption and fluorescence techniques. High values of Stern–Volmer constants (K_SV) suggest that a long-range dipole–dipole interaction is operative for the energy transfer mechanism. From the analysis of the quenching of the donor fluorescence the energy transfer efficiency (E) has been determined in both premicellar and micellar environments. Experimental results reveal that the energy transfer process is more efficient in the micellar environment compared to the premicellar situation.     

Transition from rigid to flexible structures in micelles of Undecylammonium chloride in aqueous solutions of NaCl

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) data for Undecylammonium chloride (UAC) in heavy water in the presence of NaCl 0.0428 and 0.3422 M are consistent with the presence of elongated micelles. This micellar shape has been adopted to analyze viscosity data of UAC in water in the presence of NaCl. The results obtained from this last technique are consistent with the increase of the micelle aggregation number with increasing the surfactant concentration. Micelles change from prolate ellipsoidal shape to cylindrical and wormlike shapes by increasing the added NaCl concentration and surfactant concentrations. The differences between results for the micelle aggregation number calculated from viscosity, SANS and light scattering data have been attributed to the solvent effect on micelle formation as well as changes in the size, shape and flexibility of the micelle. Viscosity data provide qualitative information on the effect of the added NaCl concentration and surfactant concentration on the size, shape, flexibility of the micelles in diluted solutions.     

稳态荧光探针法测定Tween系列非离子表面活性剂临界胶束浓度

以芘为荧光探针,测定了不同条件下的Tween系列表面活性剂增溶芘后的稳态荧光光谱,建立了Tween非离子表面活性剂的临界胶束浓度(CMC)的测试方法,研究了影响非离子表面活性剂临界胶束浓度的因素。根据I338/I333与Tween浓度的变化关系,可得到Tween20、40、60、80的临界胶束浓度分别为5.1×10-5、3.7×10-5、3.1×10-5、8×10-6mol/L。结果表明,同系列的非离子表面活性剂的分子结构对其临界胶束浓度有一定影响。同时,制备温度和外部添加的试剂如无机盐、乙醇、丙三醇均影响其临界胶束浓度。     

TX-100和CTAB交换动力学的核磁共振研究

运用核磁共振(NMR)方法分别测定了表面活性剂辛基苯聚氧乙烯醚(TX-100)和十六烷基三甲溴化铵(CTAB)在不同温度下的临界胶束浓度.阐述了应用1D NMR线型分析方法对表面活性剂快交换体系平均停留时间的定量测量.实验测量了TX-100和CTAB胶束溶液中表面活性剂分子在不同温度下的平均停留时间.结果显示,平均停留时间随温度的增加逐渐减小,说明TX-100和CTAB分子进出胶束的速率随温度的增加逐渐加快.利用阿伦尼乌斯公式拟合,获得了TX-100和CTAB的表观交换活化能,TX-100的表观交换活化能为17.6 k J/mol,CTAB的表观交换活化能为75.3 k J/mol.对TX-100和CTAB平均停留时间和表观交换活化能进行分析,得出平均停留时间和表观交换活化能与分子结构的关系:表观交换活化能反映的是疏水相互作用和静电斥力的大小;而平均停留时间不仅受活化能的影响,还与分子结构有关.     

Preparation of Long-Chain Fatty Acyl-Grafted Chitosan in an Ionic Liquid and Their Self-Assembled Micelles in Water

Controllable synthesis of self-associating lauroyl-grafted chitosan with high molecular weight was realized in ionic liquid reacting media. The obtained lauroyl chitosan with different grafting degrees was characterized by FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectra. The chitosan derivatives were able to self-assemble into spherical polymeric micelles in water. The onset of micellization or critical micelle concentration (CMC) was estimated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The hydrodynamic diameters of various lauroyl chitosan micelles, determined by dynamic light scattering, were in the range of 122–295 nm. The morphology of the micelles was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The self-assembly behavior and the size of the assembled micelles of lauroyl chitosan were affected by the grafting degree of lauroyl groups. Generally, higher grafting degree resulted in lower CMC and smaller micelle size. These lauroyl chitosan nano-micelles may have potential applications in biological and medical fields.     

Structural Transition in the Micellar Assembly: A Fluorescence Study

Structural transition can be induced in charged micelles by increasing the ionic strength of the medium. Thus, spherical micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) that exist in water at concentrations higher than the critical micelle concentration assume an elongated rod-like structure in the presence of an increased electrolyte concentration. This is known as sphere-to-rod transition. In this paper, we characterize the change in organization and dynamics that is accompanied by the salt-induced sphere-to-rod transition in SDS micelles using wavelength-selective fluorescence and other steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence parameters. Since the change in micelle organization during such structural transition may not be limited to one region of the micelle, we have selectively introduced fluorophores in two distinct regions of the micelle. We used two probes, N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)-1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (NBD-PE) and 25-[N-[(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)-methyl]amino]-27-norcholesterol (NBD-cholesterol), for monitoring the two regions of the micelle. NBD-PE monitors the interfacial region of the micellar assembly, while NBD-cholesterol acts as a reporter for the deeper regions of the micellar interior. Our results show that wavelength-selective fluorescence, in combination with other fluorescence parameters, offers a powerful way to monitor structural transitions induced in charged micelles. These results could be significant to changes in membrane morphology observed under certain physiological conditions.     

Spectral-Kinetic Characteristics of Pyrene Fluorescence in Model Systems and Membranes of Etioplasts

The decay kinetics parameters of monomer and excimer fluorescence of pyrene in artificial galactolipid protein-free micelles and membranes of prolamellar bodies (PLB) of etioplasts have been determined. A complex law of probe fluorescence decay in artificial and native membranes has been discovered. It has been found that the addition of protochlorophyllide (Pd) to lipid micelles led to a considerable reduction in the lifetime of the long-lived component of the fluorescence-decay kinetics of the monomer form of pyrene (₂) and to the appearance of luminescence in the region of 640 nm in the stationary spectra of fluorescence at excitation of the pyrene molecules present in the bilayer. In native membranes of etioplasts, the monomer duration ₂ did not depend on the pigment content and the Pd fluorescence upon excitation through pyrene was absent. The membranes of etioplasts and the pigment-containing artificial micelles did not differ in the ₂ value of the excimer. They only differed in the contribution of the long-lived component to the total fluorescence (low in native membranes). The pigment-protein interaction in the etioplast membranes and the absence from them of pigment directly associated with lipids are discussed.     

Surfactant fluorescence in the study of aggregation and clouding

The intrinsic fluorescence of Triton X-114 and Igepal CO-630 was used to monitor the aggregation behavior of micellar solutions of these surfactants. The response to changes in surfactant concentration, increases in temperature up to and beyond the cloud point, and addition of an ionic surfactant (SDS) was monitored. The intrinsic fluorescence was used to measure aggregate anisotropy as a function of SDS concentration and temperature. Relative aggregate abundance showed a minimum at the CMC, confirming the existence of premicellar assemblies. Structural differences in the hydrophobic portions of the two nonionic surfactants led to vastly different packing in their aggregates. The addition of SDS produced smaller, more closely packed micelles.     

4-Hydroxycoumarin Derivatives in Micelles: An Approach to Detect a Structural Transition Using Fluorescent Viscosity Probes

The spectroscopic behavior of three coumarin derivatives was investigated in water and in different micellar media. In SDS, the fluorescence intensity of two of the dyes increased upon addition of sodium chloride. This effect was tentatively related to a sphere-to-rod transition occurring in the micelles.     

Role of the head group on the mixed micellization process in binary systems containing a sugar-based surfactant: decanoyl- N -methylglucamide

The mixed micelles of nonionic decanoyl-N-methylglucamide (MEGA-10) with the anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), the cationic dodecyltrimetylammonium bromide (DTAB), and the nonionic octaoxyethylene monododecyl ether (C₁₂E₈) have been studied using the fluorescence probe technique. The critical micelle concentration of the three mixed systems in the whole composition range were determined by the pyrene 1:3 ratio method, and the experimental results were analysed in the context of the pseudophase separation model, by using the regular solution theory. It was found that the mixed micelles containing the anionic surfactant are more stable than the pure micelles. This fact was attributed to the occurrence of ion–dipole interactions between the head groups of the component surfactants in the mixed micelle. The static quenching method was used to determine the mean aggregation number of pure and mixed micelles. It was found that whereas mixed micelles containing SDS show a positive deviation from the ideal behaviour, those constituted by DTAB deviate negatively. This different tendency was interpreted on the basis of both steric and electrostatic interactions. The evolution of the microstructure of the mixed micelles upon the participation of the co-surfactant was followed through the micropolarity and microviscosity of the mixed systems. Although the micropolarity studies do not allow definite conclusions, the microviscosity assays indicate that the participation of the co-surfactant induces the formation of less ordered micelles, this effect being more pronounced in the case of mixtures with the anionic surfactant.