Rotational diffusion of organic solutes in surfactant-block copolymer micelles: role of electrostatic interactions and micellar hydration

Rotational diffusion of a cationic solute rhodamine 110 and a neutral solute 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-dioxo-3,6-diphenylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole, DMDPP has been examined in the surfactant-block copolymer system of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and poly(ethylene oxide)20-poly(propylene oxide)70-poly(ethylene oxide)20 (P123). In this study, the mole ratio of SDS to P123 was varied from 0 to 5 in steps of one unit, to investigate the role of electrostatic interactions and micellar hydration on solute rotation. It has been noticed that there is a significant enhancement in the average reorientation time of rhodamine 110, when [SDS]/[P123] increased from 0 to 1. This has been rationalized on the basis of migration of rhodamine 110 from the interfacial region of P123 micelles to the palisade layer (corona region) due to the electrostatic interaction with negatively charged head groups of SDS, whose tails are embedded in the polypropylene oxide core. Further increase in the mole ratio of SDS to P123 has resulted in only a marginal decrease in the average reorientation time of rhodamine 110, which is probably due to the solute molecule experiencing a microenvironment similar to the interfacial region of SDS micelles. In contrast, a gradual decrease has been observed in the average reorientation time of DMDPP with [SDS]/[P123], which is due to the increase in hydration levels in the palisade layer (corona region) of the micelle. These explanations are consistent with the structure of the SDS-P123 micellar system that has been deduced from neutron scattering and viscosity measurements recently.     

Small-angle X-ray scattering, light scattering, and NMR study of PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer/cationic surfactant complexes in aqueous solution

The formation of triblock copolymer/surfactant complexes upon mixing a nonionic Pluronic polymer (PEO-PPO-PEO) with a cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), has been studied in dilute aqueous solutions using small-angle X-ray scattering, static and dynamic light scattering, and self-diffusion NMR. The studied copolymer (denoted P123, EO(20)PO(68)EO(20)) forms micelles with a radius of 10 nm and a molecular weight of 7.5 x 10(5), composed of a hydrophobic PPO-rich core of radius 4 nm and a water swollen PEO corona. The P123/CTAC system has been investigated between 1 and 5 wt % P123 and with varying surfactant concentration up to approximately 170 mM CTAC (or a molar ratio n(CTAC)/n(P123) = 19.3). When CTAC is mixed with micellar P123 solutions, two different types of complexes are observed at various CTAC concentrations. At low molar ratios (>/=0.5) a "P123 micelle-CTAC" complex is obtained as the CTAC monomers associate noncooperatively with the P123 micelle, forming a spherical complex. Here, an increased interaction between the complexes with increasing CTAC concentration is observed. The interaction has been investigated by determining the structure factor obtained by using the generalized indirect Fourier transformation (GIFT) method. The interaction between the P123 micelle-CTAC complexes was modeled using the Percus-Yevick closure. For the low molar ratios a small decrease in the apparent molecular weight of the complex was obtained, whereas the major effect was the increase in electrostatic repulsion between the complexes. Between molar ratios 1.9 and 9 two coexisting complexes were found, one P123 micelle-CTAC complex and one "CTAC-P123" complex. The latter one consists of one or a few P123 unimers and a few CTAC monomers. As the CTAC concentration increases above a molar ratio of 9, the P123 micelles are broken up and only the CTAC-P123 complex that is slightly smaller than a CTAC micelle exists. The interaction between the P123/CTAC complexes was modeled with the hypernetted-chain closure using a Yukawa type potential in the GIFT analysis, due to the stronger electrostatic repulsion.     

Effect of ionic surfactants on the hydration behavior of triblock copolymer micelles: a solvation dynamics study of coumarin 153

Dynamic fluorescence Stokes shift measurements of coumarin 153 (C153) have been carried out to study the influence of ionic surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS and hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, CTAC) on the hydration behavior of aqueous poly(ethylene oxide)(20)-poly(propylene oxide)(70)-poly(ethylene oxide)20 (P123) block copolymer micelles. Increase in SDS or CTAC concentration at a fixed P123 concentration induces the steady-state emission spectra of C153 to shift gradually toward lower energy. This is attributed to an increase in polarity (due to enhanced hydration) experienced by the probe as a consequence of incorporation of ionic head groups in the Corona region. The observed dynamic fluorescence Stokes shift value decreases more in mixed micellar systems than in pure copolymer micelles and the trends are quite similar in the presence of SDS and CTAC. The spectral shift correlation functions were observed to be nonexponential in nature. Critical analysis of the spectral shift correlation function indicates a fast solvation component (<0.2 ns) in P123 micelles, which was absent in the presence of ionic surfactants. Due to increased hydration in the presence of ionic surfactants, the initial fast solvation event was elusive in mixed copolymer-surfactant systems, reflecting the absence of faster solvation component and reduced observed Stokes shift in mixed systems. It has been argued that in the low surfactant concentration region, increase in hydration with the incorporation of ionic head groups in the Corona region is mainly due to increase in mechanically trapped water content. However, at higher surfactant concentrations, bound water content dominates and leads to slower solvation dynamics. The present results also indicate that though CTAC alters the Corona hydration more efficiently than SDS, the overall influence of ionic surfactants on the Corona hydration is grossly similar irrespective of the cationic or anionic nature of the surfactants. Interaction of SDS and CTAC with poly(ethylene oxide)(100)-poly(propylene oxide)(70)-poly(ethylene oxide)(100) (F127) block copolymer micelles has also been studied to comprehend the effect of copolymer composition. The overall trends in dynamic fluorescence Stokes shift and solvation times are similar in both the copolymer micelles.     

Rotational diffusion of an ionic solute in polymorphic environments of a block copolymer: influence of interfacial friction on solute rotation

In an attempt to understand the role of interfacial friction on solute rotation, fluorescence anisotropy decays of a cationic solute, rhodamine 110, have been measured in polymorphic environments of a triblock copolymer, (PEO)20-(PPO)70-(PEO)20 (P123) (PEO = poly(ethylene oxide), PPO = poly(propylene oxide)). It has been noticed that even though rhodamine 110 is located in the interfacial region of the micelles, sol-gel transition does not significantly influence its rotation. Micelle-micelle entanglement, which is responsible for gelation, persists even in the micellar solution phase, perhaps to a lesser degree, and this entanglement is responsible for the observed behavior. This hypothesis has been substantiated by undertaking concentration-dependent studies in which it is shown that the reorientation time of the solute increases with an increase in the micellar concentration. In the case of reverse micelles, it has been observed that an enhancement in the water content facilitates solute rotation, which has been rationalized on the basis of solute migration from the hydrated poly(ethylene oxide) region to the poly(ethylene oxide)-water interface within the core.     

Effect of electrostatic interaction on the location of molecular probe in polymer-surfactant supramolecular assembly: a solvent relaxation study

Effect of electrostatic interaction on the location of a solubilized molecular probe with ionic character in a supramolecular assembly composed of a triblock copolymer, P123 ((ethylene oxide) 20-(propylene oxide) 70-(ethylene oxide) 20) and a cosurfactant cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) in aqueous medium has been studied using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements. Coumarin-343 dye in its anionic form has been used as the molecular probe. In the absence of the surfactant, CTAC, the probe C343 prefers to reside at the surface region of the P123 micelle, showing a relatively less dynamic Stokes' shift, as a large part of the Stokes' shift is missed in the present measurements due to faster solvent relaxation at micellar surface region. As the concentration of CTAC is increased in the solution, the percentage of the total dynamic Stokes' shift observed from time-resolved measurements gradually increases until it reaches a saturation value. Observed results have been rationalized on the basis of the mixed micellar structure of the supramolecular assembly, where the hydrocarbon chain of the CTAC surfactant dissolves into the nonpolar poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) core of the P123 micelle and the positively charged headgroup of CTAC resides at the interfacial region between the central PPO core and the surrounding hydrated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) shell or the corona region. The electrostatic attraction between the anionic probe molecule and the positively charged surface of the PPO core developed by the presence of CTAC results in a gradual shift of the probe in the deeper region of the micellar corona region with an increase in the CTAC concentration, as clearly manifested from the solvation dynamics results.     

Effect of "inverse melting transition" of aqueous triblock copolymer solutions on solute rotational dynamics

Rotational dynamics of two structurally similar hydrophobic solutes, 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-dioxo-3,6-diphenylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole (DMDPP) and 1,4-dioxo-3,6-diphenylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole (DPP), has been investigated in 30% wv aqueous solution of triblock copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)(20)-poly(propylene oxide)(70)-poly(ethylene oxide)(20) as a function of temperature. This study has been undertaken in an attempt to explore how the dynamics of a solute molecule solubilized in a copolymer solution is influenced when it undergoes sol-to-gel transition. It has been observed that the anisotropy decays of both DMDPP and DPP can be described by biexponential functions in the sol as well as in the gel phase. This observation has been rationalized on the basis of the probe molecule undergoing two different kinds of motion rather than being located in two different regions of the micelle. Even in the gel phase, which results as a consequence of micelle-micelle entanglement due to an increase in their volume fraction, the rotational relaxation of the solutes is similar to that observed in the micellar solution. The outcome of this work indicates that even though these gels have very high macroscopic viscosities and hence do not flow, the microenvironments experienced by the solutes are akin to that of a micellar solution.     

Polyene photoisomerization rates: are they distinct in aqueous block copolymer micellar solutions and gels?

Photoisomerization of 3,3'-diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide (DODCI) has been investigated in water, 5% and 30% aqueous triblock copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)20-poly(propylene oxide)70-poly(ethylene oxide)20 (P123) by measuring the fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes in the temperature range 293-318 K. Reports available in literature indicate that 5% aqueous P123 exists as micellar solution, whereas 30% aqueous P123 forms gel due to micelle-micelle entanglement. This study has been undertaken to find out how the polyene photoisomerization rates are influenced in the sol and gel phases. It has been observed that 60%-70% of DODCI is located in the palisade layer of the micelles in the sol as well as gel phases and the photoisomerization rate of this component is identical in both the phases at a particular temperature. The remainder of the probe is located in the interfacial region and isomerization rates of this fraction are slower by a factor of 1.4-1.1 in the gel phase compared with the micellar solution. The retardation of the isomerization rate in the gel phase has been explained on the basis of enhancement in the friction experienced by the probe due to micelle-micelle entanglement at the interface. Compared to the isomerization rates in water, the rates of photoisomerization of DODCI located in the palisade layer, interfacial region of micellar solution, and interfacial region of the micelles in the gel phase are slower by factors of 3.5, 1.5-1.9, and 2, respectively. The outcome of this study validates the point that in organized media photoisomerization rates are sensitive to the localized friction, which is not uniform unlike in a homogeneous solution.     

Microenvironment in the corona region of triblock copolymer micelles: temperature dependent solvation and rotational relaxation dynamics of coumarin dyes

Dynamic Stokes' shift and fluorescence anisotropy measurements using coumarin-153 (C153) and coumarin-151 (C151) as the fluorescence probes have been carried out in aqueous poly(ethylene oxide)20-poly(propylene oxide)70-poly(ethylene oxide)20 (P123) and poly(ethylene oxide)100-poly(propylene oxide)70-poly(ethylene oxide)100 (F127) block copolymer micelles with an aim to understand the water structures and dynamics in the micellar corona region. It has been established that the probes reside in the micellar corona region. It is indicated that the corona regions of P123 and F127 micelles are relatively less hydrated than the Palisade layers of neutral micelles like Triton-X-100 and Brij-35. From the appraisal of total Stokes' shift values for the probes in the two block copolymer micelles, it is inferred that the F127 micelle is more hydrated than the P123 micelle. It is observed that the dynamic Stokes' shift values for both of the probes remain more or less similar at all the temperatures studied in the P123 micelle. For C153 in F127, however, the observed Stokes' shift is seen to decrease quite sharply with temperature, though it remains quite similar for C151. Moreover, the fraction of the unobserved initial dynamic Stokes' shift is appreciably higher for both the probes in the F127 micelle compared to that in P123. Over the studied temperature range of 293-313 K, the spectral shift correlation function is described adequately by a bi-exponential function. Rotational relaxation times for C153 in both the micelles show a kind of transition at around 303 K. These results have been rationalized assuming collapse of the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blocks and formation of water clusters in the corona region due to dehydration of poly(ethylene oxide) blocks with an increase in temperature. A dissimilar probe location has been inferred for the differences in the results with C153 and C151 probes in F127. Comparison of the microviscosity and the hydration of the block copolymer micelles has also been made with those of the other commonly used neutral micelles, for a better understanding of the results in the block copolymer micelles.     

Mixed micelles of a PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer (P123) and a nonionic surfactant (C12EO6) in water. a dynamic and static light scattering study

The present article reports on static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS) studies of aqueous solutions of the nonionic surfactant C12EO6 and the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer EO20PO68EO20 (P123) at temperatures between 25 and 45 degrees C. In water, P123 self-assembles into spherical micelles with a hydrodynamic radius of 10 nm, and at 40 degrees C, these micelles consist of 131 unimers. Addition of C12EO6 leads to an association of the surfactant molecules to the P123 micelles and mixed micelles are formed. The size and structure of the mixed micelles as well as interparticle interactions were studied by varying the surfactant-to-copolymer (C12EO6/P123) molar ratio. The novelty of this study consists of a composition-induced structural change of the mixed micelles at constant temperature. They gradually change from being spherical to polymer-like with increasing C12EO6 content. At low C12EO6/P123 molar ratios (below 12), the SLS measurements showed that the molar mass of the mixed micelles decreases with an increasing amount of C12EO6 in the micelles for all investigated temperatures. In this regime, the mixed micelles are spherical and the DLS measurements revealed a decrease in the hydrodynamic radius of the mixed micelles. An exception was found for C12EO6/P123 molar ratios between 2 and 3, where the mixed micelles become rodlike at 40 degrees C. This was the subject of a previous study and has hence not been investigated here. At high molar ratios (48 and above), the polymer-like micelles present a concentration-induced growth, similar to that observed in the pure C12EO6/water system.     

Solubilization of Hydrophilic Compounds in Copolymer Aggregates

The solubilization of five hydrophilic water-soluble aroma compounds in self-aggregating triblock amphiphilic copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO), with similar percentages of PEO and different molecular weights, was studied. The five hydrophilic compounds (diacetyl, 2-methylpyrazine, pyrrole, furfural, guaiacol) were carefully selected to represent hydrophilic molecules with a similar molecular weight and molecular volume, but with different abilities to interact with the micellar core of PPO moieties and with the PEO palisade side chains. It was found that the solubilized solute mole fraction increased and the aggregate-water partition coefficients of the solutes decreased with increasing free solute concentration in the aqueous phase. The partition coefficients were smaller than those obtained for hydrophobic compounds and equilibrium was reached at lower solubilization values. Guaiacol was the least hydrophilic molecule and had the highest partition coefficient. Diacetyl was the most water-soluble compound and exhibited the smallest partition coefficient. The data reveal that the higher molecular weight polymers solubilized more solute than the low-molecular-weight polymers. Moreover it is supposed that at low solute concentrations, guaiacol (containing a hydroxyl electron acceptor group) penetrates the core of the micelle and displaces water while at more elevated concentrations it seems to be solubilized in the micelle corona. Diacetyl, the most hydrophilic solute investigated (consisting of electron donor groups), prefers mainly the corona since its affinity for the polymeric core is very weak. The solubilization occurs in the palisade layer and the partition coefficient is independent of the free solute concentration. Selective site (palisade vs core) solubilization of hydrophilic compounds in polymeric micelles can be a powerful tool to protect sensitive materials from reactants present in the continuous water phase and to conduct surface-sensitive organic reactions. Furthermore, selective release properties of reactants and products can be designed. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

A calorimetry and light scattering study of the formation and shape transition of mixed micelles of EO20PO68EO20 triblock copolymer (P123) and nonionic surfactant (C12EO6)

The interaction between the nonionic surfactant C12EO6 and the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer EO20PO68EO20 (P123) has been investigated by means of isothermal titration and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as well as static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS). P123 self-assembles in water into spherical micelles at ambient temperatures. At raised temperatures, the DSC data revealed a sphere-to-rod transition of the P123 micelles around 60 degrees C. C12EO6 interacts strongly with P123 micelles in aqueous solution to give mixed micelles with a critical micelle concentration (cmc) well below the cmc for pure C12EO6. The presence of C12EO6 also lowers the critical micelle temperature of P123 so aggregation starts at significantly lower temperatures. A new phenomenon was observed in the P123-C12EO6 system, namely, a well-defined sphere-to-rod transition of the mixed micelles. A visual phase study of mixtures containing 1.00 wt % P123 showed that in a narrow concentration range of C12EO6 both the sphere-to-rod transition and the liquid-liquid phase separation temperature are strongly depressed compared to the pure P123-water system. The hydrodynamic radius of spherical mixed micelles at a C12EO6/P123 molar ratio of 2.2 was estimated from DLS to be 9.1 nm, whereas it is 24.1 nm for the rodlike micelles. Furthermore, the hydrodynamic length of the rods at a molar ratio of 2.2 is in the range of 100 nm. The retarded kinetics of the shape transition was detected in titration calorimetric experiments at 40 degrees C and further studied by using time-resolved DLS and SLS. The rate of growth, which was slow (>2000 s), was found to increase with the total concentration.     

Effect of SDS on the self-assembly behavior of the PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer (EO)20(PO)70(EO)20

The mixed micellar system comprising the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-based triblock copolymer (EO)(20)(PO)(70)(EO)(20) (P123) and the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) has been investigated in aqueous media by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and viscosity measurements. The aggregation number of the copolymer in the micelles decreases upon addition of SDS, but a simultaneous enhancement in the degree of micellar hydration leads to a significant increase in the micellar volume fraction at a fixed copolymer concentration. This enhancement in the micellar hydration leads to a marked increase in the stability of the micellar gel phase until it is destroyed at very high SDS concentration. Mixed micellar systems with low and intermediate SDS concentrations form the micellar gel phase in much wider temperature and copolymer concentration ranges than the pure copolymer micellar solution. A comparison of the observed results with those for the copolymers (EO)(26)(PO)(40)(EO)(26) (P85) and (EO)(99)(PO)(70)(EO)(99) (F127) suggests that the composition of the copolymers plays a significant role in determining the influence of SDS on the gelation characteristics of the aqueous copolymer solutions. Copolymers with high PO/EO ratios show an enhancement in the stability of the gel phase, whereas copolymers with low PO/EO ratios show a deterioration of the same in the presence of SDS.     

Fluorescence anisotropy of ionic probes in AOT reverse micelles: influence of water droplet size and electrostatic interactions on probe dynamics

Fluorescence anisotropies of two structurally similar ionic probes, rhodamine 110 and fluorescein, were measured in di(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles as a function of the mole ratio of water to surfactant W. This study was undertaken to explore the influence of water droplet size and electrostatic interactions on the rotational diffusion of the probe molecules. It was noticed that at W = 1 and 2, the anisotropy decays of both the probes display single-exponential behavior and for a particular value of W, the time constants sensed by rhodamine 110 and fluorescein are identical. Moreover, an increase in the reorientation time was observed from W = 1 to 2. These observations indicate that, at W = 1 and 2, it is the overall rotation of micelle which is responsible for the decay of the anisotropy and also rule out the possibility of internal rotation of the probes within the reverse micelles. However, from W = 4 to 20, the anisotropy decays of the probes could only be described by a biexponential function with two time constants. The rotational diffusion of rhodamine 110 and fluorescein in the above-mentioned range of W was rationalized using the two-step model. The average reorientation time decreases with an increase in W for both the probes, and this decrease is pronounced in the case of fluorescein compared to that in rhodamine 110. The decrease in the average reorientation time with W is due to the change in the micellar packing within the core. The significant reduction in the average reorientation time of fluorescein is a consequence of repulsive electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged probe and the anionic head groups of the surfactant AOT.     

Photoisomerization of a carbocyanine derivative in the reverse phases of a block copolymer: evidence for the existence of water droplets

In an attempt to understand the nature of water present in the reverse phases of aggregates formed with the triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)(20)-poly(propylene oxide)(70)-poly(ethylene oxide)(20) (P123) and also investigate how these confined environments influence the rates of photoisomerization, fluorescence lifetimes and quantum yields of a carbocyanine derivative--3,3'-diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide (DODCI)--were measured in these systems over the temperature range of 293-318 K. Three different copolymer-oil-water compositions were chosen such that the mole ratio of water to copolymer (W) spans the range of 50-150. In these systems, butyl acetate was used as the oil or the nonpolar component. It has been noticed that in all three systems the fluorescence decays of DODCI comprise a long component whose contribution is 85-90%, and this has been ascribed to the fraction of solute solubilized in the core region where hydrated poly(ethylene oxide) units are present. A short-decay component is associated with the remaining fraction, and its values match with those measured in water, indicating that the water present in these reverse phases is in the form of droplets. The photoisomerization rate constants of DODCI located in the core regions of the reverse phases are identical in the three systems at a given temperature and similar to the ones obtained in normal phases of P123. The reasons for the observed behavior have been discussed.     

Adsolubilization of 2-naphthol into adsorbed layer of PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers on hydrophilic silica

Adsolubilization of 2-naphthol into an adsorbed layer of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymers (Pluronics) on hydrophilic silica has been investigated. Four kinds of Pluronics (P103, P105, P123, and F108) were used in order to understand the effect of the hydrophobicity of surfactant on the adsolubilization. The order of the adsorption in the saturation level was found to be P123 approximately P103 > P105 > F108, meaning that Pluronics with higher hydrophobicity can adsorb preferentially to the silica surface. Indeed, this order was parallel to the order of the adsolubilization amount of 2-naphthol. In the case of co-addition of the Pluronics and 2-naphthol, the adsolubilization amount increased gradually at lower surfactant concentration regions, reached a maximum, and then decreased with increasing concentration of the Pluronics. The maximum amount appeared at critical polymolecular micelle concentration of each Pluronics. On the other hand, the final decrement was not observed when 2-naphthol was added after replacement of the Pluronics supernatant by the Pluronics free solution. These results suggest that adsolubilization behavior is influenced by the existence of the polymolecular micellar aggregates in the solution phase.     

Investigation of the micropolarity in reverse micelles of nonionic poly(ethylene oxide) surfactants using 4-nitropyridine-N-oxide as absorption probe

The micropolarities of the reverse micelle (RM) interior of nonionic poly(ethylene oxide) surfactants of the alkyl ether type (poly(ethylene oxide)[4] lauryl ether (C12E4, Brij 30)), alkyl-aryl ethers (poly(ethylene oxide)[4] nonylphenyl ether (C9PhiE4), poly(ethylene oxide)[5] nonylphenyl ether (C9PhiE5), and poly(ethylene oxide)[5] octylphenyl ether (C8PhiE5)), and poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymers (Pluronics P123, F127) were investigated as a function of the water content by applying the absorption probe technique, using 4-nitropyridine-N-oxide (NP) as a probe. The change in the micellar aggregate micropolarity in different solvents (cyclohexane, decane, n-butanol, and n-butyl acetate) at various water contents has been investigated. The research was focused on the determination of the effects of surfactant structure and solvent type on the hydration degrees of the PEO chains in the region at the core limit, where the NP probe was located. All results regarding the polarities in RM and PEO/water calibration mixtures have been expressed in terms of Kosower's Z values, using the linear dependence of E(NP) on Kosower's Z. The PPO/butanol mixtures have also been used for RM in butanol as a reference system. The data revealed that local polarity in RM is dependent on the surfactant type, block copolymer composition, solvent nature, and water content. At the same water content, the results clearly indicate a lower hydration degree of triblock copolymers, as compared to the surfactants of the alkyl ether and alkyl-aryl ether type, but for P123 and F127 Pluronics in n-butanol the hydration is higher owing to the behavior of butanol as cosurfactant and to its hydration.     

Biophysical characterization of complexation of DNA with block copolymers of poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate, poly(ethylene oxide), and poly(propylene oxide)

The interactions of DNA (salmon testes) with two new cationic block copolymers made of poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate and poly(ethylene oxide), PEO-pDMAEMA, or poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide), L92-pDMAEMA, were studied with the aim to understand their different in vitro transfection efficiencies when used as nonviral delivery vectors. PEO-pDMAEMA does not show surface activity while L92-pDMAEMA is as surface active as its parent Pluronic L92. Surface tension, titration microcalorimetry, ethidium bromide displacement, and zeta-potential measurements were carried out in phosphate buffers at pH 5 and 7. The association of L92-pDMAEMA with DNA was strongly exothermic at both pHs; the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) corresponded to a N/P ratio of 0.3, the maximum energy evolved was reached for N/P ratios of 0.82 and 1.27 at pH 5 and pH 7, respectively, and the saturation occurred for N/P ratios close to 2. The presence of L92 in the structure of this new block copolymer apparently did not modify the thermodynamic parameters of the interaction with DNA. In contrast, the interaction with PEO-pDMAEMA was significantly less exothermic, and CAC and saturation occurred for N/Ps equal to 0.43 and 1.37, respectively. The strong affinity of L92-pDMAEMA for DNA was reflected in its capacity to displace ethidium bromide and in the jump in the values of the zeta potential when N/P is near 1. Above the N/P ratio at which electroneutral polyplexes are formed, only at pH 5 an excess of L92-pDMAEMA is incorporated in the complexes, resulting in positively charged complexes. The profile of the zeta-potential values obtained for mixtures of L92-pDMAEMA with Pluronic P123 showed a shift to a lower N/P ratio, owing to an easier interaction of L92-pDMAEMA molecules with DNA in the presence of P123. Additionally, a visual inspection of the systems indicates that P123 contributes to stabilize/solubilize the DNA/cationic polymer aggregates, by avoiding the typical phase separation near the charge neutralization point. The information obtained can be particularly useful to optimize the conditions to form efficient polyplexes for gene delivery systems.     

Ultrafast proton transfer of pyranine in a supramolecular assembly: PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer and CTAC

Excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) of pyranine (8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate, HPTS) is studied in a polymer-surfactant aggregate using femtosecond emission spectroscopy. The polymer-surfactant aggregate is a supramolecular assembly consisting of a triblock copolymer (PEO)(20)-(PPO)(70)-(PEO)(20) (P123) and a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). ESPT of the protonated species (HA) in HPTS leads to the formation of A(-). The dynamics of ESPT may be followed from the decay of the HA emission (at approximately 440 nm) and rise of the A(-) emission (at approximately 550 nm). Both steady-state and time-resolved studies suggest that ESPT of HPTS in P123-CTAC aggregate is much slower than that in bulk water, in P123 micelle, or in CTAC micelle. The ratio of the steady-state emission intensities (HA/A(-)) in P123-CTAC aggregate is 2.2. This ratio is approximately 50, 12, and 2 times higher than that respectively in water, in P123 micelle, and in CTAC micelle. Retardation of ESPT causes an increase in the rise time of the A(-) emission of HPTS. In P123-CTAC aggregate, A(-) displays three rise times: 30, 250, and 2400 ps. These rise times are longer than those in CTAC micelle (23, 250, and 1800 ps), in bulk water (0.3, 3, and 90 ps), and in P123 micelle (15 and 750 ps). The rate constants for initial proton transfer, recombination, and dissociation of the ion pair are estimated using a simple kinetic scheme. The slow fluorescence anisotropy decay of HPTS in P123-CTAC aggregate is analyzed in terms of the wobbling-in-cone model.     

Investigating the effect of randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin/block copolymer molar ratio on the template-directed preparation of mesoporous alumina with tailored porosity

Supramolecular assemblies formed between cyclodextrins and block copolymers can be efficiently used as templates for the preparation of mesoporous materials with controlled porosity. In this work, we use dynamic light scattering (DLS) and viscosity measurements to follow the variations occurring in the size and morphology of the triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (P123) micelles in the presence of various amounts of randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RAMEB). The results obtained with a series of solution compositions reveal that the cyclodextrin-to-copolymer (RAMEB/P123) molar ratio plays a crucial role in the growth rate of the micelles. At low RAMEB/P123 molar ratios (below ~7.5), a swelling effect of the cyclodextrin in the P123 micelles is noticed together with a modification of the micellar curvature from spherical to ellipsoidal. At high molar ratios (~7.5 and above), an abrupt transition toward large supramolecular assemblies, which no longer resemble micelles, occurs. When the RAMEB-swollen P123 micelles are used as templates to direct the self-assembly of colloidal boehmite nanoparticles, mesoporous γ-Al₂O₃ materials with high surface areas (360–400 m²/g), tunable pore sizes (10–20 nm), large pore volumes (1.3–2.0 cm³/g) and fiberlike morphologies are obtained under mild conditions. The composition of the mixed micellar solution, in particular the cyclodextrin-to-copolymer molar ratio, appears to be a key factor in controlling the porosity of alumina.     

Liquid crystalline mesophases of pluronics (L64, P65, and P123) and transition metal nitrate salts ([M(H2O)6](NO3)2)

The triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers, Pluronics (L64, P65, and P123), form liquid crystalline (LC) mesophases with transition metal nitrate salts (TMS), [M(H(2)O)(n)](NO(3))(2), in the presence and absence of free water in the media. In this assembly process, M-OH(2) plays an important role as observed in a TMS:C(n)EO(m) (C(n)EO(m) is oligo(ethylene oxide) nonionic surfactants) system. The structure of the LC mesophases and interactions of the metal ion-nitrate ion and metal ion-Pluronic were investigated using microscopy (POM), diffraction (XRD), and spectroscopy (FTIR and micro-Raman) techniques. The TMS:L64 system requires a shear force for mesophase ordering to be observed using X-ray diffraction. However, TMS:P65 and TMS:P123 form well structured LC mesophases. Depending on the salt/Pluronic mole ratio, hexagonal LC mesophases are observed in the TMS:P65 systems and cubic and tetragonal LC mesophases in the TMS:P123 systems. The LC mesophase in the water/salt/Pluronic system is sensitive to the concentration of free (H(2)O) and coordinated water (M-OH(2)) molecules and demonstrates structural changes. As the free water is evaporated from the H(2)O:TMS:Pluronic LC mesophase (ternary mixture), the nitrate ion remains free in the media. However, complete evaporation of the free water molecules enforces the coordination of the nitrate ion to the metal ion in all TMS:Pluronic systems.