Spontaneously formed vesicles of sodium N-(11-acrylamidoundecanoyl)-glycinate and L-alaninate in water

Two N-acyl amino acid surfactants, sodium N-(11-acrylamidoundecanoyl)-glycinate (SAUG) and L-alaninate (SAUA), were synthesized and characterized in aqueous solution. A number of techniques, such as surface tension, fluorescence probe, light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy were employed for characterization of the amphiphiles in water. The surface and interfacial properties were measured. The amphiphiles have two critical aggregation concentrations. The results of surface tension and fluorescence probe studies suggested formation of bilayer self-assemblies in dilute aqueous solutions of the amphiphiles. The magnitudes of free energy change of aggregation have indicated that bilayer formation is more favorable in the case of SAUG. Steady-state fluorescence measurements of pyrene and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) were used to study the microenvironment of the molecular self-assemblies. Temperature-dependent fluorescence anisotropy change of DPH probe revealed phase transition temperature of the bilayer self-assemblies. The effects of pH on the structure of the self-assemblies of SAUG and SAUA have been studied. The role of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between amide groups upon aggregation toward microstructure formation in solution has been discussed. Circular dichroism spectra suggested the presence of chiral aggregates in an aqueous solution of SAUA. The transmission electron micrographs revealed the presence of closed spherical vesicles in aqueous solutions of the amphiphiles. Dynamic light scattering measurements were performed to obtain average size of the aggregates.     

Adamantyl ferrocene derivatives: Antioxidant abilities and effects on model lipid membranes

A series of homoannularly and heteroannularly substituted adamantyl ferrocene derivatives has been synthesized and their effects on membrane fluidity were investigated using liposomes as the membrane models. The liposome formulations of adamantyl ferrocene derivatives were characterized by using dynamic light scattering, differential scanning calorimetry and fluorescence anisotropy measurements. It was demonstrated that adamantyl ferrocene derivatives incorporated into the liposome significantly affect the structure of the lipid bilayer. The results of the study have revealed that adamantyl ferrocene derivatives, compounds 9 – 12, partition into the hydrophobic/hydrophilic interface of the membrane, causing a significant decrease in membrane fluidity. The antioxidant potential of synthesized compounds was assessed with DPPH method and it was shown that the examined compounds possess certain antioxidant activity.     

Spontaneous formation of vesicles and chiral self-assemblies of sodium N-(4-dodecyloxybenzoyl)-L-valinate in water

A novel N-acylamino acid surfactant, sodium N-(4-dodecyloxybenzoyl)-L-valinate (SDLV), has been synthesized. The aggregation behavior of the surfactant in aqueous solution has been studied by surface tension, fluorescence probe, microscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. The amphiphile has a very low critical aggregation concentration (cac). These studies have suggested formation of large bilayer structures in water. The mean apparent hydrodynamic radius, RH, of the self-assemblies in dilute aqueous solution obtained from DLS measurements confirmed formation of large aggregates. The FT-IR spectra of the amphiphile have indicated strong intermolecular amide hydrogen bonding in the self-assemblies in aqueous solution. The microenvironment of the fluorescence probes is highly nonpolar and viscous in nature. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra of SDLV were recorded in water and in a 1:1 water-methanol mixture. The CD spectra have indicated the presence of chiral aggregates in aqueous solution above the cac. The microstructure of the aggregates has been studied by use of optical and transmission electron microscopy. Both types of micrographs have shown the presence of a variety of morphologies including giant spherical vesicles, tubules, twisted ribbons, and helical strands in aqueous solutions.     

Effect of hydrogen-bonding interactions on the self-assembly formation of sodium N-(11-acrylamidoundecanoyl)-L-serinate, L-asparaginate, and L-glutaminate in aqueous solution

Aggregation behavior of three N-acyl amino acid surfactants, sodium N-(11-acrylamidoundecanoyl)-l-serinate (SAUS), sodium N-(11-acrylamidoundecanoyl)-l-asparaginate (SAUAS), and sodium N-(11-acrylamidoundecanoyl)-l-glutaminate (SAUGL), was studied in aqueous solution by use of surface tension, fluorescence, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopic techniques. The amphiphiles have been shown to initially form flexible bilayer structures, which upon increase of surfactant concentration transform into closed spherical vesicles. The transmission electron micrographs of the aqueous solutions of the surfactants confirmed the existence of spherical vesicles. Dynamic light scattering measurements were performed to obtain hydrodynamic radii of the vesicles. Circular dichroism spectra of the amphiphiles indicated formation of chiral helical aggregates in the case of SAUS. The self-assembly formation of the amphiphiles has been discussed in light of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction of the amide groups.     

New pH sensitive network: Combination of an amphiphilic degradable polyester with a β-cyclodextrin copolymer

A novel hydrophobic monomer, ethyladamantyl malolactonate, has been synthesized and copolymerized with benzyl malolactonate by anionic ring-opening polymerization. The ratio of adamantyl monomer varied from 0 to 100 mol%. Deprotection of benzyl groups leads to a water soluble copolyester with carboxylic acid lateral functions which give a polyelectrolyte character to the corresponding polymers. The mixture of a copolyester containing 10% of adamantyl groups and a β-cyclodextrin/epichlorohydrin copolymer in aqueous solution leads to a new pH-dependant associating system. The solution behavior of this system was studied by viscosimetry as a function of pH, concentration and ratio of both copolymers. At the initial solution pH (pH=2), the copolyester adopts a coiled structure as a result of hydrophobic interactions between the pendant adamantyl groups. Consequently, no network formation is observed as shown by a very low viscosity. As the pH increase, the viscosity of the medium increases and reaches a maximum at pH=5. At this pH, the copolyester expands because of electrostatic repulsions between the carboxylate pendant functions. Consequently, the adamantyl groups are accessible and can be encapsulated into the β-cyclodextrin cavities resulting in a significant increase of the viscosity.     

Synthesis and langmuir isotherms of difluorostearic acids

The CF₂ containing 6,6- and 10,10-difluorooctadecanoic acids 7 and 8, respectively have been synthesised and their Langmuir isotherms evaluated. In marked contrast to the behaviour of octadecanoic acid (stearic acid) 1 it is demonstrated that spreading on an aqueous subphase generates an unstable monolayer which reorganises to a more stable bilayer structure. Grazing incidence X-ray scattering and ellipsometric measurements after deposition of 8 from the subphase onto a silicon wafer, confirmed a bilayer structure. These observations reinforce our earlier conclusions with 12,12-difluorooctadecanoic acid that substitution of CH₂ by CF₂ leads to increased conformational flexibility of a hydrocarbon chain.     

含铕荧光两亲接枝共聚物的制备及胶束化行为

以丙烯酸(AA)、 苯甲酸(BA)和邻菲啰啉(Phen)为配体, Eu³⁺为中心离子, 制备了可聚合荧光配合物单体, 并以此单体为功能单体, 聚乙二醇单甲醚甲基丙烯酸酯(MPEGMA)和甲基丙烯酸六氟丁酯(HFMA)为共聚单体, 通过溶液聚合制备出含铕两亲荧光接枝共聚物P-[HFMA-co-Eu(AA)(BA)₂Phen]g-PEG. 利用红外光谱(FTIR)和核磁共振波谱(¹H NMR和¹⁹F NMR)对共聚物的结构进行表征; 采用表面张力法测定共聚物的临界胶束浓度(cmc)为0.20 g/L; 通过透射电子显微镜(TEM)和动态光散射仪(DLS)观察胶束的形貌及其胶束化行为, 发现该共聚物可以形成大小均一的球形胶束, 且随着共聚物浓度的提高, 胶束粒径相应增大; 在溶液浓度达到临界胶束浓度时, 溶液荧光出现强度突变.     

New three-arm amphiphilic and biodegradable block copolymers composed of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone). Synthesis, characterization and self-assembly in aqueous solution

The synthesis, characterization and the self-assembly process of a novel biodegradable block copolymer containing a poly(epsilon-caprolactone), PCL, central block and three poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone), PVP, arms are reported. Three samples with different amounts of PVP were investigated. The copolymers were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, (1)H NMR and viscosity measurements. The composition and the molecular weights of the block copolymers were established using size exclusion chromatography SEC and (1)H NMR. Micelle formation by these copolymers was monitored by using the vibrational fine structure of pyrene monomer fluorescence and the critical aggregation concentrations, cac, of the copolymers in aqueous solution were determined using sigmoid Boltzmann-type fitting of the fluorescence data. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed a bimodal size distribution for the copolymers in solution, indicating that the micellization is an intermolecular process. Partitioning coefficients of pyrene between copolymer micelles and water were also determined and increase in magnitude with increasing epsilon-caprolactone content of the copolymer.     

Fluorescence behaviour of an alkyl lysophospholipid in the presence of 1,6-dipheylhexatriene

The alkyl lysophospholipid (ALP), 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-dl-glycero-3-phosphorylchlorine (Et-18-OMe), which shows anticancer and antimetastatic properties, causes a very large increase in the fluorescence intensity of the known fluorescent probe, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), when DPH enters the hydrophobic region of the ALP bilayer. This phenomenon is used to determine 2–166 μg ml^?1 Et-18-OMe by adding a dilute solution of DPH in tetrahydrofuran to an aqueous analyte solution. Parameters that affect the fluorescence intensity are studied.     

Aqueous RAFT Synthesis of Low Molecular Weight Anionic Polymers for Determination of Structure/Binding Interactions with Gliadin

Gliadin, a component of gluten and a known epitope, is implicated in celiac disease (CeD) and results in an inflammatory response in CeD patients when consumed. Acrylamide‐based polyelectrolytes are employed as models to determine the effect of molecular weight and pendent group on non‐covalent interaction modes with gliadin in vitro. Poly(sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonate) and poly(sodium 3‐methylpropyl‐3‐butanoate) are synthesized via aqueous reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (aRAFT) polymerization and characterized by gel permeation chromatography‐multiangle laser light scattering. The polymer/gliadin blends are examined via circular dichroism, zeta potential measurements, 8‐anilinonaphthalene‐1‐sulfonic acid fluorescence spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Acrylamide polymers containing strong anionic pendent groups have a profound effect on gliadin secondary structure and solution behavior below the isoelectric point, while polymers containing hydrophobic character only have a minor impact. The polymers have little effect on gliadin secondary structure and solution behavior at the isoelectric point.     

Controlled loading of building blocks into temporary self-assembled scaffolds for directed assembly of organic nanostructures

Using temporary self-assembled scaffolds to preorganize building blocks is a potentially powerful method for the synthesis of organic nanostructures with programmed shapes. We examined the underlying phenomena governing the loading of hydrophobic monomers into lipid bilayer interior and demonstrated successful control of the amount and ratio of loaded monomers. When excess styrene derivatives or acrylates were added to the aqueous solution of unilamellar liposomes made from saturated phospholipids, most loading occurs within the first few hours. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy revealed no evidence of aggregation caused by monomers. Bilayers appeared to have a certain capacity for accommodating monomers. The total volume of loaded monomers is independent of monomer structure. X-ray scattering showed the increase in bilayer thickness consistent with loading monomers into bilayer interior. Loading kinetics is inversely proportional to the hydrophobicity and size of monomers. Loading and extraction kinetic data suggest that crossing the polar heads region is the rate limiting step. Consideration of loading kinetics and multiple equilibria are important for achieving reproducible monomer loading. The total amount of monomers loaded into the bilayer can be controlled by the loading time or length of hydrophobic lipid tails. The ratio of loaded monomers can be varied by changing the ratio of monomers used for loading or by the time-controlled replacement of a preloaded monomer. Understanding and controlling the loading of monomers into bilayers contributes to the directed assembly of organic nanostructures.     

含蒽醌基双分子膜的电子光谱

用荧光和紫外光谱研究了新合成的含蒽醌(2,6)生色基的单链双亲性分子(ANQU)在水溶液中形成的双分子膜聚集体结构。ANQU在稀水溶液中的吸收光谱比其在乙醇稀溶液中的谱峰有较大的红移；其凝胶态相对于液晶态的吸收谱亦有明显红移。结果表明,ANQU双分子膜中分子的堆积方式是J-聚集,蒽醌生色基以头对尾取向方式排列。变温荧光光谱观察双分子膜中蒽醌生色基的荧光光谱强度和峰位极敏感地受到双分子膜物理状态变化的影响。     

Ionic conductivity of the aqueous layer separating a lipid bilayer membrane and a glass support

The in-plane ionic conductivity of the approximately 1-nm-thick aqueous layer separating a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) bilayer membrane and a glass support was investigated. The aqueous layer conductivity was measured by tip-dip deposition of a POPC bilayer onto the surface of a 20- to 75-microm-thick glass membrane containing a single conical-shaped nanopore and recording the current-voltage (i-V) behavior of the glass membrane nanopore/POPC bilayer structure. The steady-state current across the glass membrane passes through the nanopore (45-480 nm radius) and spreads radially outward within the aqueous layer between the glass support and bilayer. This aqueous layer corresponds to the dominant resistance of the glass membrane nanopore/POPC bilayer structure. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching measurements using dye-labeled lipids verified that the POPC bilayer maintains a significant degree of fluidity on the glass membrane. The slopes of ohmic i-V curves yield an aqueous layer conductivity of (3 +/- 1) x 10(-3) Omega(-1) cm(-1) assuming a layer thickness of 1.0 nm. This conductivity is essentially independent of the concentration of KCl in the bulk solution (10-4 to 1 M) in contact with the membrane. The results indicate that the concentration and mobility of charge carriers in the aqueous layer between the glass support and bilayer are largely determined by the local structure of the glass/water/bilayer interface.     

New associating polymer systems involving water soluble β-cyclodextrin polymers

Original associating systems have been obtained by mixing hydrophobically end-capped polyethylene oxide and water soluble β-cyclodextrin polymers in aqueous solutions. The hydrophobic ends of the PEO polymers, naphtyl and adamantyl groups, have been chosen in order to match the β-cyclodextrin cavities. Inclusion complex formation between the PEO terminal groups and β-cyclodextrin are at the origin of polymolecular associations. Complexation constants have been determined by fluorescence methods, using a fluorescent probe 1-8 ANS as a competitor for complexation against the adamantyl groups or directly checking the fluorescence of the naphtytl groups by fluorescence anisotropy measurements. The onsets of the polymolecular associations have been monitored by viscosimetry.     

Spontaneous vesicle formation of single chain and double chain cationic surfactant mixtures

The concentration vs composition diagram of aggregate formation of the dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) mixture in aqueous solution at rather dilute region was constructed by analyzing the surface tension, turbidity, and electrical conductivity data and inspected by cryo-TEM images and dynamic light scattering data. Although the aqueous solution of DTAB forms only micelles, the transition from monomer to small aggregates and then to vesicle was found at 0.1 < X2 相似文献   

Thermally responsive graft copolymer of soy protein isolate and N-isopropylacrylamide: synthesis and self-assembly behavior in aqueous solution

In recent years, soy protein isolate (SPI) has attracted great attention due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and wide availability. It has been used in food and pharmaceutical industry such as edible films and drug delivery systems. In this study, we report the synthesis and self-assembly behavior in aqueous solution of thermally responsive graft copolymer (SPI-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA)) of soy protein isolate and N-isopropylacrylamide in aqueous solution. SPI-g-PNIPA was synthesized in the 8 mol/l urea cushioning solution, by using ammonium persulfate as the initiator and mercaptoacetic acid as the protein unfolding agent. Laser light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy have been used to study the self-assembly behavior of SPI-g-PNIPA in aqueous solution. Above the critical micelle concentration (cmc), SPI-g-PNIPA aggregates could assemble into different structures including the simple spherical structure, spherical core–shell structure, and random coil structure, depending on the graft copolymer concentration. The graft copolymer concentration, temperature, pH value, and ionic strength were found to influence the aggregate size and morphology of SPI-g-PNIPA in aqueous solution. With increasing ionic strength, the aggregate size increases. However, pH value, SPI-g-PNIPA concentration, and temperature have complicated influences on the aggregate size. The lower critical solution temperature of the SPI-g-PNIPA at pH 8.5 is 36 °C. The method of intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy was used for the first time to determine the cmc value of SPI-g-PNIPA in aqueous solution.     

pH-responsive amphiphilic hybrid random-type copolymers of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(acrylate-POSS): synthesis by ATRP and self-assembly in aqueous solution

The synthesis and subsequent self-assembly of novel, random-type amphiphilic pH-responsive hybrid copolymers, having acrylic acid as pH-responsive hydrophilic and acrylate-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) as hydrophobic constituents are reported. The synthesis was carried out in two steps: first, t-butylacrylate and acrylate-POSS are copolymerized by ATRP, followed by the acid hydrolysis of t-butyl acrylate constituents of the synthesized poly(t-butylacrylate)-co-poly(acrylate-POSS) copolymers to achieve poly(acrylic acid)-co-poly(acrylate-POSS). It was found that POSS is a powerful hydrophobic unit. With very low POSS concentration in the copolymers, i.e., one POSS unit per 40 to 110 acrylic acid repeat units, the obtained amphiphilic hybrid copolymers could self-assemble in aqueous solution to form nanoaggregates, as revealed by the laser light scattering and fluorescence studies on the aqueous solutions of the obtained copolymers. The formation of hydrophobic core in the self-assembled aggregates is verified by the solubilization of pyrene (used as probe in fluorescence measurements) in aqueous solution of the copolymers. In addition to pH-dependent self-assembly behavior, it is also demonstrated that the particle size and aggregation number of the aggregates can be tuned simply by varying the composition of the copolymer, i.e., by changing the molar ratio of poly(acrylic acid) to poly(acrylate-POSS) in the copolymer. Finally, preliminary results on the influence of salt (NaCl) on the self-assembly of poly(acrylic acid)-co-poly(acrylate-POSS) in aqueous solution are also presented.     

Small-angle neutron scattering from mixtures of sodium dodecyl sulfate and a cationic, bolaform surfactant containing azobenzene

This paper reports on the microstructures formed in aqueous solutions containing mixtures of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and a photosensitive, bolaform surfactant, bis(trimethylammoniumhexyloxy)azobenzene dibromide (BTHA). By using quasi-elastic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering, we determined that aqueous solutions containing SDS and the trans isomer of BTHA (0.1 wt % total surfactant, 15 mol % BTHA, 85 mol % SDS) form vesicles with average hydrodynamic diameters of 1350 +/- 50 angstroms and bilayer thicknesses of 35 +/- 2 angstroms. The measured bilayer thickness is consistent with a model of the vesicle bilayer in which the trans isomer of BTHA spans the bilayer. Upon illumination with UV light, the BTHA underwent photoisomerization to produce a cis-rich photostationary state (80% cis isomer). We measured this photoisomerization to drive the reorganization of vesicles into cylindrical aggregates with cross-sectional radii of 19 +/- 3 angstroms and average hydrodynamic diameters of 240 +/- 50 angstroms. Equilibration of the cis-rich solution in the dark at 25 degrees C for 12 h or illumination of the solution with visible light leads to the recovery of the trans-rich photostationary state of the solution and the reformation of vesicles, thus demonstrating the potential utility of this system as the basis of a tunable fluid.     

含Schiff碱基双分子膜聚集状态对荧光效率的影响

合成双分子膜的功能化是近年来引人注目的研究课题之一,它为以可控制方式合成开发功能材料和仿生器件提供了一条趋于实际意义的途径。最近我们合成了含Schiff碱基的单链双亲性分子(缩写为C_nSBC_4N~+)     

Synthesis and capping of water-dispersed gold nanoparticles by an amino acid: bioconjugation and binding studies

We report a novel strategy for the synthesis of aqueous stable, carboxylated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) by using glutamic acid as the reducing agent. The ratio of chloroaurate ions, AuCl(-)(4) to glutamic acid was optimized in the reaction medium to obtain monodispersed GNPs. Glutamic acid reduced gold nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible, FTIR, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, which demonstrated high stability in aqueous solution over a period of time indicating stabilization via surface-bound amino acid. Functionalized nanoparticles were conjugated with protein molecules through electrostatic attraction between the surface-terminated negatively charged carboxylate groups (COO(-)) of glutamic acid and the positively charged amino groups (NH(+)(3)) of the protein. The conjugation efficiency of the GNP:protein conjugates was confirmed qualitatively and quantitatively through gel electrophoresis and critical flocculation concentration analysis. The interaction between functionalized GNPs with protein molecules was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy showing the fluorescence quenching of the tryptophan residues of protein molecules after conjugation. Circular dichroism (CD) studies of the conjugates confirmed that the protein undergoes a more flexible conformational state on the boundary surface of GNPs after conjugation. There was substantial conformational transition from alpha-helix to beta-sheet structure after conjugation of protein to GNPs.