Molecular interactions of cationic and anionic surfactants in mixed monolayers and aggregates

The properties of anionic-rich and cationic-rich mixtures of CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) and SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) were investigated with conductometry and surface tension measurements and by determining the surfactant NMR self-diffusion coefficients. The critical aggregate concentration (CAC), surface tension reduction effectiveness(gamma(CAC)), surface excess(Gamma(max)), and mean molecular surface area (A(min)) were determined from plots of the surface tension (gamma) as a function of the total surfactant concentration. The compositions of the adsorbed films (Z) and aggregates (chi) were estimated by using regular solution theory, and then the interaction parameters in the aggregates (beta) and the adsorbed film phases (beta(sigma)) were calculated. The results showed that the synergism between the surfactants enhances the formation of mixed aggregates and reduces the surface tension. Further, the nature and strength of the interaction between the surfactants in the mixtures were obtained by calculating the values of the following parameters: the interaction parameter, beta, the size parameter, rho, and the nonrandom mixing parameter, P*. These results indicate that in ionic surfactant mixtures the optimized packing parameter has the highest value and that the size parameter can be used to account for deviations from the predictions of regular solution theory. It was concluded that, for planar air/aqueous interfaces and aggregation systems, this nonideality increases as the temperature increases. This trend is attributed to the increased dehydration of the surfactant head groups that results from increases in temperature. Further, our conductometry measurements show that the counterion binding number of mixed micelles formed in mixtures with a high CTAB content is different to those with a high SDS content. This difference is due to either their different aggregation sizes or the different interactions between the head groups and the counterions.     

Interaction between the water soluble poly{1,4-phenylene-[9,9-bis(4-phenoxy butylsulfonate)]fluorene-2,7-diyl} copolymer and ionic surfactants followed by spectroscopic and conductivity measurements

The interaction has been studied in aqueous solutions between a negatively charged conjugated polyelectrolyte poly{1,4-phenylene-[9,9-bis(4-phenoxybutylsulfonate)]fluorene-2,7-diyl} copolymer (PBS-PFP) and several cationic tetraalkylammonium surfactants with different structures (alkyl chain length, counterion, or double alkyl chain), with tetramethylammonium cations and with the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by electronic absorption and emission spectroscopy and by conductivity measurements. The results are compared with those previously obtained on the interaction of the same polymer with the nonionic surfactant C12E5. The nature of the electrostatic or hydrophobic polymer-surfactant interactions leads to very different behavior. The polymer induces the aggregation with the cationic surfactants at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration, while this is inhibited with the anionic SDS, as demonstrated from conductivity measurements. The interaction with cationic surfactants only shows a small dependence on alkyl chain length or counterion and is suggested to be dominated by electrostatic interactions. In contrast to previous studies with the nonionic C12E5, both the cationic and the anionic surfactants quench the PBS-PFP emission intensity, leading also to a decrease in the polymer emission lifetime. However, the interaction with these cationic surfactants leads to the appearance of a new emission band (approximately 525 nm), which may be due to energy hopping to defect sites due to the increase of PBS-PFP interchain interaction favored by charge neutralization of the anionic polymer by cationic surfactant and by hydrophobic interactions involving the surfactant alkyl chains, since the same green band is not observed by adding either tetramethylammonium hydroxide or chloride. This effect suggests that the cationic surfactants are changing the nature of PBS-PFP aggregates. The nature of the polymer and surfactant interactions can, thus, be used to control the spectroscopic and conductivity properties of the polymer, which may have implications in its applications.     

Nonideal mixing of dodecyltrimethylammonium halides and nonionic surfactant in adsorbed films and micelles

The ion–dipole interaction between dodecyltrimethylammonium cations and nonionic surfactant molecules in adsorbed films and micelles was investigated by concentrating on the difference in the degree of counterion binding by employing dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC)–octyl methyl sulfoxide (OMS) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB)–OMS mixtures. The phase diagrams of adsorption and micelle formation were constructed and then the nonideal mixing of different species of surfactants was demonstrated in terms of the excess Gibbs free energies of adsorption and micelle formation, and the surface excess areas. Furthermore the dependence of them on the counterion was clearly shown. All these results were found to support our previous view that the direct interaction between surfactant cation and the dipole of the hydrophilic part of a nonionic surfactant is essential in cationic-nonionic surfactant mixtures, i.e., the DTAC system with a lower counterion biding has more negative excess thermodynamic quantities than the DTAB system with a higher one.     

Study on the distribution of binary mixed counterions in surfactant adsorbed films by total reflection XAFS measurements

The total reflection X-ray absorption fine structure (TR-XAFS) technique was applied to adsorbed films at the surface of aqueous solutions of surfactant mixtures composed of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and dodecyltrimethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (DTABF₄). The obtained XAFS spectra were expressed as linear combinations of two specific spectra corresponding to fully hydrated bromide ions (free-Br) and partially dehydrated bromide ions adsorbed to the hydrophilic groups of surfactant ions (bound-Br) at the surface. The ratio of free- and bound-Br ions was determined as a function of surface tension and surface composition of the surfactants. Taking also the results in our previous studies on the DTAB - dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (HMIMBr) - 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (HMIMBF₄) mixed systems into consideration, the relation between counterion distribution and miscibility of counterions at the solution surface was deduced for the surfactant mixtures having common surfactant ions but different counterions.     

Polyelectrolyte behavior and conformation of poly-L-methionine S-methylsulfonium salts in aqueous solution

The influence of the species of counterion on the polyelectrolyte behavior and the conformation of poly-L -methionine S-methylsulfonium salts in aqueous solution was studied by viscometric, electrochemical, and optical measurements. The degree of binding of small counterions to charged polyions increases in the sequence: chloride ? bromide < iodide < thiocyanate. The conformations of chloride and bromide salts are independent of polymer concentration. On the contrary, iodide and thiocyanate salts indicate a conformational transition, probably from a random-coil conformation to an intermolecularly stabilized β-form, with the increase of polymer concentration. The results suggest the existence of a strong specific interaction between counterion and macroion in iodide and thiocyanate salt solutions at high polymer concentration.     

Molecular aggregates of partially fluorinated quaternary ammonium salt gemini surfactants

The size and shape of novel partially fluorinated gemini surfactant 1,2-bis[dimethyl-(3-perfluoroalkyl-2-hydroxypropyl)ammonium]ethane bromide (CnFC3-2-C3CnF, where n=4, 6, and 8) were investigated in aqueous solution by means of light scattering and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The sizes of these molecular aggregates changed with increasing carbon number of the alkyl chain and concentration. For example, the apparent hydrodynamic radius by dynamic light scattering was 18 nm at a concentration of cmcx5 for n=4, 115 nm at the cmcx15 for n=6, and 62 nm at the cmcx30 for n=8, at 298.2 K. The shapes of CnFC3-2-C3CnF aggregates drastically changed with the alkyl chain length; the aggregates were mainly in the form of large or irregular small aggregates (n=4), string-like aggregates (n=6), and vesicles (n=8). The bromide-ion activity was measured using a bromide-ion-selective electrode to determine the degree of counterion binding to the aggregates. The degree of counterion binding to aggregate was very small compared with that in the typical hydrogenated gemini surfactants. These results indicated that the small curvature of large aggregates was not influenced by an electrostatic repulsion between the cationic head groups in the case of the bulky molecular volume of fluorinated gemini surfactants.     

Critical micelle concentrations and interaction parameters of aqueous binary surfactant:ionic surfactant mixtures

A relationship between the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the surfactant's composition in the bulk phase that supercedes Rubingh's method is derived for aqueous mixtures of ionic surfactants by considering the interaction between a micellar ionic aggregate and the diffusion layer around it. To test this approach we measured the CMCs of solutions of cationic surfactant mixtures and also of alkylammonium dodecanesulfonate mixtures. In the absence of controlled concentration of the counterion, the CMCs do not fit Clint's equation, but CMCs measured at a constant counterion concentration fit it approximately. The interaction parameter in the theory of regular solutions is obtained from the relationship between the micellar and bulk compositions. The values of the interaction parameter and the concentration exponent change with the hydrophobicity of the counterion in mixtures of alkylammonium dodecanesulfonates. The micellar composition of dodecylammonium chloride and dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride mixtures depends very little on the counterion concentration. The interaction energy between the ammonium and trimethylammonium groups of the cationic surfactants is about -0.05kT on average and depends on the concentration of the counterion.     

The Interaction Between N–Isopropylacrylamide-Acrylic Acid-Ethyl Methacrylate Thermosensitive Polymers and Cationic Surfactants

The interaction between cationic surfactants and isopropylacrylamide-acrylic acid-ethyl methacrylate (IPA:AA:EMA) terpolymers has been investigated using steady-state fluorescence and spectrophotometric measurements to assess the effect of the polymer composition on the aggregation process and terpolymers’ thermosensitivities. Micropolarity studies using pyrene show that the interaction of cationic surfactants with IPA:AA:EMA terpolymers occurs at surfactant concentrations much smaller than that observed for the pure surfactant in aqueous solution. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) values decrease with both the hydrocarbon length of the surfactant and the content of ethyl methacrylate. These results were interpreted as a manifestation of the increasing contribution of attractive hydrophobic and electrostatic forces between negatively charged polymer chains and positively charged surfactant molecules. The increase of ethyl methacrylate in the copolymers lowers the CAC due to the larger hydrophobic character of the polymer backbone. The cloud point determination reveals that the lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) depend strongly on the copolymer composition and surfactant nature. The binding of surfactants molecules to the polymer chain screens the electrostatic repulsion between the carboxylic groups inducing a conformational transition and the dehydration of the polymer chain.     

Alkaline degradation of the organophosphorus pesticide fenitrothion as mediated by cationic C12, C14, C16, and C18 surfactants

The effect of varying surfactant chain length (C12, C14, C16, C18) on the alkaline hydrolysis of the organophosphorus pesticide fenitrothion was determined for the following series of inert counterion cationic surfactants: dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTABr), tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTABr), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr), and octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTABr). Plots of kobs versus [surfactant] at constant [KOH] showed saturation behavior at low total [Br-], and (constrained) S-shaped curvature was observed at high total [Br-]. kobs values increased with increasing surfactant chain length but decreased with added KBr. For systems exhibiting saturation behavior, further analysis of the results using the PPIE treatment as modified to account for HO-/Br- exchange allowed the evaluation of substrate binding constants, KS, and micellar rate constants, k2m. The binding constants increased with chain length (hydrophobicity), but ionic strength had no effect on KS. Meanwhile, because of the increased KS values as the surfactant chain length increased, the rate enhancements observed for fenitrothion degradation correspondingly increased. However, rate enhancements decreased with ionic strength because reactive counterions could not compete against the bromide anion for micellar binding sites. Low k2m/k2w ratios revealed that the observed rate enhancements were due to the so-called concentration effect rather than true catalysis. Finally, where the PPIE model failed (displaying S-shaped curvature), our results support the intervention of sphere-to-rod transitions that are favored at high ionic strength (>0.01 M Br-) and lower temperatures as the cause of the S-shaped curvature.     

Microstructure of un-neutralized hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble emulsion latex in different surfactant solutions

At low pH conditions and in the presence of anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants, hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble emulsions (HASE) exhibit pronounced interaction that results in the solubilization of the latex. The interaction between HASE latex and surfactant was studied using various techniques, such as light transmittance, isothermal titration calorimetry, laser light scattering, and electrophoresis. For anionic surfactant, noncooperative hydrophobic binding dominates the interaction at concentrations lower than the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) (C < CAC). However, cooperative hydrophobic binding controls the formation of mixed micelles at high surfactant concentrations (C > or = CAC), where the cloudy solution becomes clear. For cross-linked HASE latex, anionic surfactant binds only noncooperatively to the latex and causes it to swell. For cationic surfactant, electrostatic interaction occurs at very low surfactant concentrations, resulting in phase separation. With further increase in surfactant concentration, noncooperative hydrophobic and cooperative hydrophobic interactions dominate the binding at low and high surfactant concentrations, respectively. For anionic and cationic surfactant systems, the CAC is lower than the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants in water. In addition, counterion condensation plays an important role during the binding interaction between HASE latex and ionic surfactants. In the case of nonionic surfactants, free surfactant micelles are formed in solution due to their relatively low CMC values, and HASE latexes are directly solubilized into the micellar core of nonionic surfactants.     

Critical aggregation concentration in mixed solutions of anionic polyelectrolytes and cationic surfactants

We have examined the polymer/surfactant interaction in mixed aqueous solutions of cationic surfactants and anionic polyelectrolytes combining various techniques: tensiometry, potentiometry with surfactant-selective electrodes, and viscosimetry. We have investigated the role of varying polymer charge density, polymer concentration, surfactant chain length, polymer backbone rigidity, and molecular weight on the critical aggregation concentration (Cac) of mixed polymer/surfactant systems. The Cac of these systems, estimated from tensiometry and potentiometry, is found to be in close agreement. Different Cac variations with polymer charge density and surfactant chain length were observed with polymers having persistence lengths either smaller or larger than surfactant micelle size, which might reflect a different type of molecular organization in the polymer/surfactant complexes. The surfactant concentration at which the viscosity starts to decrease sharply is different from the Cac and probably reflects the polymer chain shrinkage due to surfactant binding.     

Interactions of quaternary ammonium salt-type gemini surfactants with sodium poly(styrene sulfonate)

The interactions of cationic gemini surfactants, 1,2-bis(alkyldimethylammonio)ethane dibromide (m-2-m: m is hydrocarbon chain length, m = 10 and 12), and an anionic polymer, sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), have been characterized by several techniques such as tensiometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The surface tension of gemini surfactant/PSS mixed systems decreases with surfactant concentration, reaching break points, which are taken as critical aggregation concentrations (cac). The surface tension at the cac of mixtures is higher than that of single surfactants, and it is found that at concentrations above the cac, the surfactant molecules are associated with the polymer in the bulk. The 12-2-12/PSS mixed system shows higher surface activity than both 10-2-10/PSS and the monomeric surfactant of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide/PSS systems. Fluorescence measurements of these mixed systems suggest the formation of a complex with a highly hydrophobic environment in the bulk of the solution. Additionally, dynamic light scattering measurements show that the hydrodynamic diameter of the 12-2-12/PSS mixed system is smaller than that of PSS only at low concentration, indicating interactions between surfactant and polymer. These result from the electrostatic attraction between ammonium and sulfate headgroups as well as the hydrophobic interaction between their hydrocarbon chains.     

The interaction of isomeric hexanediols with sodium dodecyl sulfate and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide micelles

The micelle formation process for a typical anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and a typical cationic surfactant, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, has been investigated in a series of mixed solvents consisting of different concentrations of isomeric hexanediols (1,2-hexanediol and 1,6-hexanediol) in water. The critical micelle concentrations and the degrees of counterion dissociation of the mixed micelles were obtained from conductance experiments. Luminescence probing experiments have been used to determine the concentration of micelles in solution and, hence, the micellar aggregation numbers of the surfactants in the mixed solvent systems. The alcohol aggregation numbers were determined by combining the partition coefficients (obtained using NMR paramagnetic relaxation enhancement experiments) with the micellar concentrations from the luminescence probing experiments. All these results are interpreted in terms of the difference in the interaction of the isomeric hexanediols with the surfactant as a function of the position of the hydroxyl groups on the six-carbon chain of the alcohol. Received: 28 June 2000/Accepted: 5 July 2000     

Interactions between gemini surfactants and polymers: thermodynamic studies

Aqueous mixtures containing a homopolymer, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), or a hydrophobically modified graft copolymer, HM-pullulan, (PULAU9, where 9 stands for the nominal substitution degree), and different Gemini surfactants have been investigated at 25.0 degrees C. A wide variety of experimental conditions were addressed by changing the amount of polymer and of surfactant. The Gemini surfactants were synthesized, purified, and characterized by routine methods. They differ from each other in polar head groups (two sulfonate-, two quaternary ammonium-, or two arginine-based groups), in alkyl chain length (11 or 12 carbon atoms), and in the distance between the polar head groups. The spacers consist of 2, 3, and 6 methylene units or 3 oxyethylene units. Surface activity and solution calorimetry measurements yield some physicochemical features inherent to micelle formation and polymer-surfactant interactions. The data are supported by ionic conductivity, detecting the critical thresholds and quantifying the modifications in binding associated with critical association (CAC) and micelle formation (CMC*). The Gibbs energy of transfer from the micelles to a polymer-binding site, DeltaGtrans, was evaluated from the CAC/CMC* ratios versus the amount of added polymer. A similar procedure determined the enthalpy of transfer, DeltaHtrans. DeltaGtrans decreases with added polymer, whereas DeltaHtrans becomes more negative on increasing the amount of polymer in the medium. According to the selected data presented here, cationic Geminis do not interact with PVP, while significant interactions have been observed in other surfactants. In mixtures with PULAU9, the interaction is significant for all Geminis. This effect is due to interactions between the surfactants and the hydrophobic alkyl groups on the main polymer chain. The pendent groups facing away from the polysaccharide chain act as binding sites for aggregates onto such polymers.     

Counterion binding on mixed anionic/cationic micelles

Measurements of counterion binding in mixtures of surfactant aqueous solutions have been performed to study the structure of the anionic/cationic mixed micelle/solution interface. The mixtures studied were SDS/DDAC and STS/TDPC. The binding of chloride and sodium ions to mixed anionic/cationic micelles was measured using ion-specific electrodes. Counterion binding was found to be strongly dependent on the molar ratio of surfactants present. The mixed micelle/solution interface includes the headgroups of both surfactants and counterions of surfactant in excess. The addition of oppositely charged surfactant caused an increasing dissociation of counterions.     

几种表面活性剂与DNA的相互作用

用循环伏安、紫外－可见光谱和交流阻抗等方法，以电活性小分子亚甲基蓝（ MB）为探针，研究了几种表面活性剂与DNA的相互作用。研究发现，阴离子、阳离 子和非离子表面活性剂均可通过疏水和静电作用与固定在电极表面的DNA分子结合 ，改变电极表面DNA的状态，进而影响电活性小分子的电化学行为。阴离子表面活 性剂与DNA之间以静电排斥为主，也有部分疏水性结合，它使MB的氧化还原峰峰电 流减小。阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵、十二烷基三甲基氯化铵均在一 定浓度范围内对MB的电化学响应有增敏作用，而代十六烷基吡啶、溴代十八烷基吡 啶表现出抑制效应，它们与DNA间既有疏水性作用，也有静电吸引。非离子表面活 性剂与DNA的结合较弱，其主要是通过改变溶液的性质（如粘度、极性和介电常数 等）影响DNA的构象，从而导致MB电化学参数的微弱变化。此外，表面活性剂疏水 链的长短及极性头基的大小对作用过程也有一定影响。     

Amperometric method for determining the degree of complexation of polyelectrolytes with cationic surfactants

The complexation of sodium polystyrene sulfonate with monovalent cationic surfactants at a microsized liquid/liquid interface has been studied using electrochemistry. The method is based on measurement of surfactant ion transfer across the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). The complexation of various cationic surfactants (alkylpyridinium- and trimethylammonium-) with oligosized polystyrene sulfonate was measured. Binding isotherms were used to determine the degree of binding as a function of the surfactant chain length and type of head group. It was found that the hydrophobicity of the surfactant was the predominant factor. The effect of the polyelectrolyte chain length on the binding mechanism was studied using cetylpyridinium chloride as a complexing agent. It was found that binding affinity, as well as cooperativity of the binding process, decreases with decreasing polyelectrolyte chain length. Thermodynamics of surfactant binding was measured using titration microcalorimetry. The thermodynamic data obtained show that the enthalpy of surfactant binding is not dependent on polymer chain length, but an increase in chain length makes the binding process entropically more favorable.     

Interaction of amphiphilic block copolymer micelles with surfactants

An out line and summary of literature studies on interactions between different types of amphiphilic copolymer micelles with surfactants has been given. This field of research is still emerging and it is difficult presently to make generalisations on the effects of surfactants on the copolymer association. The effects are found to be varied depending upon the nature and type of hydrophobic (hp) core and molecular architecture of the copolymers and the hydrocarbon chain length and head group of surfactants. The information available on limited studies shows that both anionic and cationic surfactants (in micellar or molecular form) equally interact strongly with the associated and unassociated forms of copolymers. The beginning of the interaction is typically displayed as critical aggregation concentration (CAC), which lies always below the critical micelle concentration of the respective surfactant. The surfactants first bind to the hydrophobic core of the copolymer micelles followed by their interaction with the hydrophilic (hl) corona parts. The extent of binding highly depends upon the nature, hydropobicity of the copolymer molecules, length of the hydrocarbon tail and nature of the head group of the surfactant. The micellization of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)–poly(propylene oxide) (PPO)–poly(ethylene oxide) was found to be suppressed by the added surfactants and at higher surfactant concentrations, the block copolymer micelles get completely demicellized. This effect was manifested itself in the melting of liquid crystalline phases in the high copolymer concentrations. However, no such destabilization was found for the micelles of polystyrene (PS)–poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers in water. On the contrary, the presence of micellar bound surfactant associates resulted in to large super micellar aggregates through induced intra micellar interactions. But with the change in the hydrophobic part from polystyrene to poly(butadiene) (PB) in the copolymer, the added surfactants not only reduced the micellar size but also transformed cylindrical micelles to spherical ones. The mixtures in general exhibited synergistic effects. So varied association responses were noted in the mixed solutions of surfactants and copolymers.     

Modulating the emission intensity of poly-(9,9-bis(6'-N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)-fluorene phenylene) bromide through interaction with sodium alkylsulfonate surfactants

The interaction between the cationic HTMA-PFP (Poly-(9,9-bis(6'-N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl-fluorene phenylene) bromide) and oppositely charged sodium n-alkyl sulfonate surfactants of different chain lengths has been studied in DMSO-water solutions (4% v/v) by UV-visible absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetimes, electrical conductivity, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Polymer-surfactant interactions lead to complex spectroscopic behaviors which depends on surfactant concentration. At low surfactant concentrations, the observed strong static fluorescence quenching of fluorescence seems to be associated with formation of aggregates between polymer chains neutralized through interaction with surfactants. This is supported by conductivity and by analysis of absorption spectra deconvoluted at each surfactant concentration using an adapted iterative method. In contrast, above the surfactant critical micelle concentration, there is a strong fluorescence enhancement, leading in some cases to higher intensities than in the absence of surfactants. This is attributed to the transformation of the initially formed aggregates into some new aggregate species involving surfactant and polymer. These changes in HTMA-PFP fluorescence as a function of n-alkyl sulfonate concentration are important for the general understanding of polymer-surfactant interactions, and the aggregates formed may be important as novel systems for applications of these conjugated polyelectrolytes.     

Influence of counterion on the interaction of dodecyl sulfates and cellulose ethers

Fluorescence probe techniques together with microcalorimetry and dye solubilization were used to study the interaction between nonionic polymers and anionic surfactants with different monovalent counterions in order to examine the effects of the counterion. The polymers used were the cellulose ethers hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (EHEC). The surfactants were dodecyl sulfates with potassium, sodium, and lithium as counterions (KDS, NaDS, LiDS). The counterion influenced the interaction start concentration as well as the nature of the mixed aggregates formed. The interaction start, according to surfactant concentration, was found to be in the order KDS < NaDS < LiDS for both polymers as well as in aqueous solution. From fluorescence measurements it was found that the KDS-polymer aggregates shield pyrene from water better than the other surfactants, indicating larger aggregates with a more fluid interior. The microcalorimetry measurements confirm that the adsorption of the surfactants onto the polymer is endothermic and entropy driven at the start and as more clusters are formed on the polymer chains the process converts to being exothermic and driven by both enthalpy and entropy.