Aggregation behavior of acrylamide/2-phenoxyethyl acrylate and its interaction with sodium dodecyl sulfate in aqueous solution studied by proton 1D and 2D NMR

¹H NMR self-diffusion coefficient, spin-lattice relaxation time, spin-spin relaxation time, and two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement (2D NOESY) measurements have been used to study the association behavior of a novel hydrophobically associating copolymer composed of acrylamide (AM) and a small amount of 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate (POEA), and its interaction with the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Three sets of copolymers with approximately the same composition but with different hydrophobic POEA contents were investigated. The POEA contents for these copolymers were about 1.41, 1.03, and 0.56 mol% respectively, as validated by ¹H NMR spectra. Self-diffusion coefficient measurements show that the aggregation process occurs in a relative narrow concentration range and the critical association concentrations (cacs), of these copolymers are within this narrow concentration range, which are in agreement with those measured by viscosity measurements (6 g L^–1). Above this concentration, the hydrophobic POEA moieties are found to associate and possibly build a transitory three-dimensional network along the polyacrylamide (PAM) backbones, which induces a strong decrease in NMR parameters including self-diffusion coefficients and relaxation times. The surfactant SDS showed a significant interaction with the copolymer in the dilute solution. Addition of SDS resulted in the binding of SDS on copolymer POEA-PAM segments and reinforced the interchain transient network formation of copolymer at a concentration below its cac. In the SDS/POEA-PAM mixed systems, the hydrophobic methylene groups of the SDS molecules were preferentially located in the vicinity of the phenoxy groups of the POEA hydrophobes.     

Aggregation behavior of long-chain N-aryl imidazolium bromide in aqueous solution

The aggregation behavior of three long-chain N-aryl imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs), 1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-alkylimidazolium bromide [C(n)pim]Br (n = 10, 12, and 14), in aqueous solutions was systematically explored by surface tension, electrical conductivity, and (1)H NMR. A lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) for the N-aryl imidazolium ILs is observed compared with that for 1,3-dialkylimidazolium ILs [C(n)mim]Br, indicating that the incorporation of the 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl group into a headgroup favors micellization. The enhanced π-π interactions among the adjacent 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl groups weaken the steric hindrance of headgroups and thus lead to a dense arrangement of [C(n)pim]Br molecules at the air-water interface. An analysis of the (1)H NMR spectra revealed that the introduced 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl group may slightly bend into the hydrophobic regions upon micellization. The micelle formation process for [C(n)pim]Br (n = 10, 12, and 14) was found to be enthalpy-driven in the investigated temperature range, which is attributed to the strong electrostatic self-repulsion of the headgroups and the counterions as well as the π-π interactions among headgroups. Strong, stable fluorescence properties are presented by the new N-aryl imidazolium ILs, indicating their potential application in the field of photochemistry.     

A phenol-induced structural transition in aqueous cetyltrimethylammonium bromide solution

The effect of phenol on the structure of micellar solution of a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was investigated using viscosity, dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. The relative viscosity and apparent hydrodynamic diameters of the micelles in CTAB solution increase initially and then decrease with addition of phenol. SANS studies indicate a prolate ellipsoidal structure of the micelles. The axial ratio of the prolate ellipsoidal micelles increases and then decreases with addition of phenol, consistently with DLS and viscosity measurements. NMR studies confirm the solubilization of phenol to the palisade layer and growth of the micelles at high concentration of phenol as revealed from the broadening of peaks.     

Properties of polyethylene glycol (23) lauryl ether with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in mixed aqueous solutions studied by self-diffusion coefficient NMR

NMR self-diffusion coefficient measurements have been used to study the properties of polyethylene glycol (23) lauryl ether (Brij-35) with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in the mixed aqueous solutions with different mole fractions of CTAB. By fitting the self-diffusion coefficients to the two-state exchange model, the critical micelle concentrations of the two solutes in the mixed solutions (cmc*1 and cmc*2) were obtained. The critical mixed micelle concentrations (cmc*) were then evaluated by the sum of cmc*1 and cmc*2, which are in good agreement with the results measured by the surface tension method. The cmc* values are lower than those of the ideal case of mixing, which indicates that the behavior of the CTAB/Brij-35 system is nonideal. Moderate interactions between CTAB and Brij-35 in their mixtures can be deduced from the interaction parameters (betaM) based on the cmc* obtained by the NMR self-diffusion method. The compositions (x1) of the mixed micelles at different total surfactant concentrations were also evaluated. By using these results, a possible mechanism of mixed micellar formation and a picture of the formation of nonsimultaneous CTAB/Brij-35 binary mixed micelle were proposed. In contrast to the case of CTAB/TX-100 system, Brij-35 molecules have a tendency to form micelles first at any mole fraction of CTAB. The mixed micellar self-diffusion coefficients (Dm) increase slightly at lower CTAB molar ratios, and then speed up with increasing CTAB mole fraction.     

Aggregation behavior of gemini surfactants and their interaction with macromolecules in aqueous solution

Gemini surfactants are constructed by two hydrophobic chains and two polar/ionic head groups covalently connected by a spacer group at the level of the head groups. Gemini surfactants possess unique structural variations and display special aggregate transitions. Their aggregation ability and aggregate structures can be more effectively adjusted through changing their molecular structures compared with the corresponding monomeric surfactants. Moreover, gemini surfactants exhibit special and useful properties while interacting with polymers and biomacromolecules. Their strong self-aggregation ability can be applied to effectively influence the aggregation behavior of both polymers and biomacromolecules. This short review is focused on the performances of gemini surfactants in aqueous solutions investigated in the last few years, and summarizes the effects of molecular structures on aggregation behavior of gemini surfactants in aqueous solution as well as the interaction of gemini surfactants with polymers and biomacromolecules respectively.     

Aggregation behavior and interaction of an amphiphilic drug imipramine hydrochloride with cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide: light scattering studies

The aggregation behavior and interaction of an amphiphilic antidepressant drug imipramine (IMP) hydrochloride with the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) have been studied using light scattering (both static and dynamic) techniques. Due to rigid tricyclic hydrophobic moiety present in the molecule, the drug shows interesting association behavior. The static light scattering measurements show that the self-association of IMP commenced above a well-defined critical micellar concentration (CMC), which decreases with increasing the mole fraction of the CTAB surfactant. Both the excess Gibbs energy (ΔG(ex)) and the Gibbs energy of micellization (ΔG(M)°) are negative, and decrease with increasing mole fraction of the surfactant. The hydrodynamic diameters (d(h)) of the micellar aggregates were also evaluated using the dynamic light scattering measurements. The data indicate formation of larger aggregates by IMP and CTAB due to mixed micellization and subsequent micellar growth. The results have been analyzed using different models (viz., Clint, Motomura, Rosen, Rubingh, etc.) for mixed micelle formation.     

Aggregation behavior of amphiphilic poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) diblock copolymers in aqueous solution studied by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

The diffusional behavior of amphiphilic poly(2-oxazoline) diblock copolymers in aqueous solution is studied using photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). The polymers were synthesized by living cationic polymerization and were fluorescence-labeled with tetramethyl rhodamine isothiocyanate either at the end of the hydrophilic or the hydrophobic block. Temperature-resolved PCS showed that, at room temperature, large metastable aggregates are present along with unimers and micelles. An annealing above ~40 °C resulted in stable equilibrium micellar solutions. By means of FCS, the hydrodynamic radii of the unimers and the micelles were measured simultaneously in a broad concentration range, and the critical micelle concentration could be determined. Comparison of the results from conventional PCS measurements with this first FCS study showed excellent agreement and the high potential of the FCS technique.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Erhard W. Fischer on the occasion of his 75th birthdayAn erratum to this article can be found at     

Structure of pravastatin and its complex with sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles studied by NMR spectroscopy

The aim of this work was to study the mechanisms of interaction between pravastatin and cell membranes using model membranes (sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles) by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods. On the basis of the nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, it was established that pravastatin can form intermolecular complexes with sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles by the interaction of its hydrophilic groups with the polar surface of the micelle. Conformational features of pravastatin molecule were also studied. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aggregation of sodium dodecyl sulfate in poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous solution studied by <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR spectroscopy

¹H NMR self-diffusion coefficient, spin–spin relaxation and two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy measurements of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) aqueous solution show that SDS molecules start to self-aggregate at a concentration of 3.3 mM, which is well below the normal critical micellar concentration (cmc). SDS micelles are formed when the cmc is reached with PEG solubilized in their hydrophobic micellar cores. Electronic Publication     

Polycondensation behavior of methyltrimethoxysilane studied by NMR spectroscopy

Silicate gels are most often synthesized by hydrolyzing monomeric alkoxide precursors employing acid or base catalysts. The properties of final products are determined by the pathway of the reactions, which includes hydrolysis, condensation, and solvent exchange reaction. We analyzed a system with methyltrimethoxysilane as monomer and ethanol as solvent by using ¹H, ¹³C, and 2D heteronuclear correlated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Complete assignments of the proton and the ¹³C-NMR bands were established, which rendered the kinetic study feasible. An understanding of the behavior of the system was also attempted, especially at earlier stages. The results showed that hydrolysis and solvent exchange reactions occurred at early stage whereas condensation occurred slowly. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Influence of surface roughness on cetyltrimethylammonium bromide adsorption from aqueous solution

The influence of surface roughness on surfactant adsorption was studied using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). The sensors employed had root-mean-square (R) roughness values of 2.3, 3.1, and 5.8 nm, corresponding to fractal-calculated surface area ratios (actual/nominal) of 1.13, 1.73, and 2.53, respectively. Adsorption isotherms measured at 25 °C showed that adsorbed mass of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide per unit of actual surface area below 0.8 cmc, or above 1.2 cmc, decreases as the surface roughness increases. At the cmc, both the measured adsorbed amount and the measured dissipation increased dramatically on the rougher surfaces. These results are consistent with the presence of impurities, suggesting that roughness exacerbates well-known phenomena reported in the literature of peak impurity-related adsorption at the cmc. The magnitude of the increase, especially in dissipation, suggests that changes in adsorbed amount may not be the only reason for the observed results, as aggregates at the cmc on rougher surfaces are more flexible and likely contain larger amounts of solvent. Differences in adsorption kinetics were also found as a function of surface roughness, with data showing a second, slower adsorption rate after rapid initial adsorption. A two-rate Langmuir model was used to further examine this effect. Although adsorption completes faster on the smoother surfaces, initial adsorption at zero surface coverage is faster on the rougher surfaces, suggesting the presence of more high-energy sites on the rougher surfaces.     

The wettability of polytetrafluoroethylene by aqueous solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and Triton X-100 mixtures

Measurements of the advancing contact angle (theta) were carried out for aqueous solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) phenoxypoly(ethylene glycol), Triton X-100 (TX100) mixtures on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The obtained results indicate that the wettability of PTFE depends on the concentration and composition of the surfactants mixture. There is a minimum of the dependence between contact angle and composition of the mixtures for PTFE for each concentration at a monomer mole fraction of CTAB, alpha, equal 0.2, which points to the synergism in the wettability of PTFE. In contrast to Zisman, there is no linear dependence between costheta and the surface tension of aqueous solution of CTAB and TX100 mixtures for all studied systems, but a linear dependence exists between the adhesional tension and surface tension for PTFE in the whole concentration range, the slope of which is -1, that suggests that the surface excess of the surfactant concentration at the PTFE-solution interface is the same as that at the solution-air interface for a given bulk concentration. It was also found that the work of adhesion of aqueous solution of surfactants to PTFE surface did not depend on the type of surfactant and its concentration. It means that the interactions across PTFE-solution interface were constant for the systems studied, and they were largely Lifshitz-van de Waals type. On the basis of the surface tension of PTFE and the Young equation and thermodynamic analysis of the adhesion work of aqueous solution of surfactant to the polymer surface it was found that in the case of PTFE the changes of the contact angle as a function of the mixture of nonionic and cationic surfactants concentration resulted only from changes of the polar component of solution surface tension.     

Aggregation of methylene blue in frozen aqueous solutions studied by absorption spectroscopy

The paper presents a qualitative as well as quantitative spectroscopic study of methylene blue (MB) aggregation that occurs upon freezing the aqueous solutions over a wide concentration range. The Gaussian curve analysis and the multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares method were used to determine the number and concentration of chemical species responsible for the overlaying absorption visible spectra measured. The results show the extent of aggregation for the concentrations above 10(-7) mol L(-1), being dependent on the freezing rate and the initial concentration. While the local concentration of MB at the grain boundaries of polycrystalline ice increased by approximately 3 orders of magnitude upon fast freezing at 77 K compared to the liquid phase, the concentration raised at least by 6 orders of magnitude upon slow freezing at 243 K. Since enhancement of the local concentration of solutes plays an important role in (photo)chemical transformations in solid aqueous media, this work helps to understand how the initial conditions control the course of the process. The results are relevant in other interdisciplinary fields, such as environmental chemistry, cosmochemistry, or geochemistry.     

Spontaneously formed nonequilibrium vesicles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium octyl sulfate in aqueous dispersions

It is well-known that vesicles form in mixtures of cationic and anionic surfactants. We have investigated mixtures of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium octyl sulfate (SOS) with the latter in excess over a long time, about 500 days. We have followed the growth of the aggregates by light scattering and checked the morphologies by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM). All samples showed a monotonic growth with decreasing rate (the change of size was about linear on a logarithmic time scale). In series of samples with weight ratio 30:70 of CTAB/SOS and total surfactant concentration between 0.5 and 3 wt %, the size increased with the surfactant concentration up to 2 wt % and decreased thereafter; cryoTEM examination revealed that the samples contained a majority of open bilayer structures at the highest concentrations. Part of the sample at 2 wt % was diluted to 0.5 wt % after 60 days. The size measured after dilution was slightly smaller than before but well above that found in the directly prepared 0.5 wt % sample, and the particle size in the three samples continued to grow in parallel. Structures other than unilamellar vesicles were observed also in samples at 2 wt % total surfactant concentration at CTAB/SOS ratios close to the borders of the vesicle lobe in the (quasi) ternary phase diagram as published (Yatcilla, M. T.; Herrington, K. L.; Brasher, L. L.; Kaler, E. W.; Chiruvolu, S.; Zasadzinski, J. A. J. Phys. Chem. 1996, 100, 5874). The results clearly show that the spontaneous vesicle populations do not represent equilibrium populations. They also suggest that the vesicle lobes in the phase diagram mainly represent areas where a lamellar phase is easily dispersed in the form of vesicles in an aqueous solution.     

Phase behavior of concentrated aqueous solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium hydroxy naphthoate (SHN)

We have characterized the phase behavior of mixtures of the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the organic salt 3-sodium-2-hydroxy naphthoate (SHN) over a wide range of surfactant concentrations using polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. A variety of liquid crystalline phases, such as hexagonal, lamellar with and without curvature defects, and nematic, are observed in these mixtures. At high temperatures the curvature defects in the lamellar phase are annealed gradually on decreasing the water content. However, at lower temperatures these two lamellar structures are separated by an intermediate phase, where the bilayer defects appear to order into a lattice. The ternary phase diagram shows a high degree of symmetry about the line corresponding to equimolar CTAB/SHN composition, as in the case of mixtures of cationic and anionic surfactants.     

Aggregation behavior of hexadecyltrimethylammonium surfactants with various counterions in aqueous solution

Both thermodynamic and microenvironmental properties of the micelles for a series of cationic surfactants hexadecyltrimethylammonium (C16TAX) with different counterions, F-, Cl-, Br-, NO3-, and (1/2)SO4(2-), have been studied. Critical micelle concentration (CMC), degree of micelle ionization (alpha), and enthalpy of micellization (DeltaH(mic)) have been obtained by conductivity measurements and isothermal titration microcalorimetry. Both the CMC and the alpha increase in the order SO4(2-) < NO3- < Br- < Cl- < F-, consistent with a decrease in binding of counterion, except for the divalent anion sulfate. DeltaH(mic) becomes less negative through the sequence NO3- < Br- < Cl- < F- < SO4(2-), and even becomes positive for the divalent sulfate. The special behavior of sulfate is associated with both its divalency and its degree of dehydration. Gibbs free energies of micellization (DeltaG(mic)) and entropies of micellization (DeltaS(mic)) have been calculated from the values of DeltaH(mic), CMC, and alpha and can be rationalized in terms of the Hofmeister series. The variations in DeltaH(mic) and DeltaS(mic) have been compared with those for the corresponding series of gemini surfactants. Electron spin resonance has been used to assess the micropolarity and the microviscosity of the micelles. The results show that the microenvironment of the spin probe in the C16TAX surfactant micelles depends strongly on the binding of the counterion.     

树枝状大分子与双十二烷基二甲基溴化铵在溶液中的分子间相互作用

通过负染色与冷冻蚀刻透射电子显微镜(TEM)、流变学性能测试等方法,研究了以1.0代聚酰胺-胺(PAMAM)为核心、以(PO)m(EO)n(其中PO与EO分别是环氧丙烷、环氧乙烷的缩写,m和n分别代表嵌段中PO和EO的个数)为辐射臂的树枝状大分子与双十二烷基二甲基溴化铵(DDAB)的分子间相互作用,并将此混合体系的聚集行为、流变学特性与DDAB的囊泡体系进行了比较.研究表明,由于DDAB分子可能插入到树枝状大分子聚集体的疏水微区中,使得混合体系中DDAB类似于凝胶的结构几乎被破坏,随其浓度的增加,混合体系中仅形成了DDAB单层囊泡及其与树枝状大分子构成的复合物,导致剪切后的黏度大幅下降,同时体系几乎不再具有黏弹性特征.     

Aggregation behavior of naphthalimide fluorescent surfactants in aqueous solution

A group of novel fluorescent surfactants, N-n-alkyl-4-(1-methylpiperazine)-1,8-naphthalimide iodine [C_nndi]I (n?=?8, 10, and 12), have been synthesized and their aggregation behavior in aqueous solution have been explored by surface tension, electric conductivity, hydrogen-1 NMR spectra, absorption, and fluorescence spectra. Compared with traditional cationic surfactants, the [C_nndi]I have a rather lower critical micelle concentration and higher surface activity. Absorption and fluorescence spectra were proved to be facile method to monitor directly the aggregation states of fluorescent surfactant molecules in solution and revealed clearly the formation of face-to-face stacked structure of the [C_nndi]I molecules driven by the π–π interactions. The micelle formation process for [C_nndi]I was demonstrated to be enthalpy-driven in the temperature range investigated. Possible aggregation process was given based on the experimental results. The combination of dye and surfactant provides a way for monitoring the formation process of micelle directly by fluorescence spectra.