Energy transfer in triton-X 100 micelles: a fluorescence study

The study of fluorescence energy transfer from the phenyl groups of the micellar triton X-100 (TX-100) to solubilised 1-pyrene butyric acid (PBA) has been carried out. Through the analysis of the donor fluorescence quenching energy transfer efficiency has been determined. The observed donor-acceptor separation suggests that pyrene molecules are distributed uniformly in the micellar core.     

Energy transfer from C-phycocyanin to phthalocyanine metal complex in reverse micelles

A new mimic system of photosynthetic apparatus was constructed from C-phycocyanin and phthalocyanine zinc. C-PC was solubilized in the reverse micelles of non ionic surfactant Tween-80, cosurfactant pentanol, and solvent cyclohexane, in which the overall concentration of surfactant was 20% (w/v) and the mass ratio of Tween-80 to pentanol was 4:1. When the molar ratio of water to Tween-80 (R_w)≥9.0, the characteristic properties of C-PC were maintained. When it was excited, the energy transfer from C-PC to phthalocyanine zinc took place. The energy transfer efficiency was only related with the concentration of phthalocyanine, but not that of C-PC. Furthermore, the energy transfer was roughly in keeping with Perrin formulation, which indicated that the energy transfer took place approximately through dipole-dipole interaction in rigid system. The radii of the quenching sphere were calculated from the experimental results. For example, when the concentration of phthalocyanine zinc was 2.10 × 10~(-4) mol/     

Analysis of benzalkonium chloride by capillary electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry

Conditions for the separation and determination of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) homologues by CE with UV-detection and CE coupled to MS (IT) using electrospray as ionization source were established. The separation was performed using fused-silica capillaries of 50 microm id and 100 mM acetic acid-ammonium acetate buffer solution at pH 4.5 with 80% of ACN as carrier electrolyte. CE-MS coupling parameters were optimized and methanol-10 mM acetic acid (90:10 v/v) was selected as sheath liquid. Detection limits, based on an S/N of 3:1, were calculated, and values between 0.8 and 1.3 mg/L with CE-ESI/MS and around 0.5 mg/L with CE-ESI-MS/MS, using hydrodynamic injection (15 s, 3.5 kPa), were obtained. Good run-to-run and day-to-day precisions on concentration were achieved with RSDs lower than 8%. Quantitative analysis was carried out by the internal standard method and the calibration curves showed good linearities (r(2) > 0.98). The CE-ESI-MS/MS method was successfully applied to the analysis of BAC in different ophthalmic solutions, allowing the direct determination, identification and confirmation of the BAC homologues presented in these samples.     

Mixed micelles of alkylamines and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride

The influence of chain length and the nature of the head group on the composition of micelles of a binary mixture of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride with both unsubstituted and N-substituted n-octyl, n-decyl, and n-lauryl amines was established from the variation of the critical micelle concentration (cmc) as a function of the solution composition. A synergistic effect was observed in all instances that were found to be correlated with chain length and the type of N-substituent on the alkylamine head group. Experimental data were compared with theoretical predictions based on the equilibrium between micelles and monomers in solution. The Motomura treatment was used to determine the composition of each compound in the mixed micelles (Xi(m)). Mixing nonideality was expressed in terms of the molecular interaction parameter (beta12) as determined using the theory of Holland and Rubingh. Finally, the molecular thermodynamic model for mixed surfactant systems developed by Puvvada and Blankschtein was used to estimate the micellization free energy (DeltaGM) and to evaluate the synergistic phenomenon.     

Ultrafast energy transfer in water-AOT reverse micelles

A spectroscopic investigation of the vibrational dynamics of water in a geometrically confined environment is presented. Reverse micelles of the ternary microemulsion H2O/AOT/n-octane (AOT = bis-2-ethylhexyl sulfosuccinate or aerosol-OT) with diameters ranging from 1 to 10 nm are used as a model system for nanoscopic water droplets surrounded by a soft-matter boundary. Femtosecond nonlinear infrared spectroscopy in the OH-stretching region of H2O fully confirms the core/shell model, in which the entrapped water molecules partition onto two molecular subensembles: a bulk-like water core and a hydration layer near the ionic surfactant headgroups. These two distinct water species display different relaxation kinetics, as they do not exchange vibrational energy. The observed spectrotemporal ultrafast response exhibits a local character, indicating that the spatial confinement influences approximately one molecular layer located near the water-amphiphile boundary. The core of the encapsulated water droplet is similar in its spectroscopic properties to the bulk phase of liquid water, i.e., it does not display any true confinement effects such as droplet-size-dependent vibrational lifetimes or rotational correlation times. Unlike in bulk water, no intermolecular transfer of OH-stretching quanta occurs among the interfacial water molecules or from the hydration shell to the bulk-like core, indicating that the hydrogen bond network near the H2O/AOT interface is strongly disrupted.     

Excited state proton transfer in reverse micelles

The aqueous phase of water/AOT reversed micelles having varying diameters was probed by a single free diffusing proton that was released form a hydrophilic photoacid molecule (2-naphthol-6,8-disulfonate). The fluorescence decay signals were reconstructed through the geminate recombination algorithm, accounting for the reversible nature of the proton-transfer reactions at the surface of the excited molecule and at the water/detergent interface. The radial diffusion of the proton inside the aqueous phase was calculated accounting for both the entropy of dilution and the total electrostatic energy of the ion pair, consisting of the pair-energy and self-energy of the ions. The analysis implied that micellar surface must be modeled with atomic resolution, assuming that the sulfono residue protrudes above the water/hydrocarbon interface by approximately 2 A. The analysis of the fluorescence decay curves implies that the molecule is located in a solvent with physical-chemical properties very similar to bulk water, except for the dielectric constant. For reversed micelles with r(max) > or = 16 A, the dielectric constant of the aqueous phase was approximately 70 and for smaller micelles, where approximately 60% of the water molecule is in contact with the van der Waals surface of the micelle, it is as low as 60. This reduction is a reflection of the increased fraction of water molecule that is in close interaction with the micelle surface.     

Oxidation of benzalkonium chloride by gamma irradiation: kinetics and decrease in toxicity

The gamma degradation of toxic non-oxidizing biocide dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) was investigated. The degradation of DDBAC achieved 70–100% depending on the initial concentration and the absorbed dose, but only 10–33% dissolved organic carbon was removed. The presence of NO₃ ^?, HCO₃ ^?, 2-propanol and tert-butanol inhibited the degradation of DDBAC. The DDBAC degradation rate constant ratios of ·OH, ·H and e _aq ^? was calculated as 7.4:1.4:1. The acute toxicity of 10 mg L^?1 DDBAC was removed by 60% at absorbed doses of 0.5–3.0 kGy. The results showed that gamma irradiation was effective to remove DDBAC and its toxicity.     

Salting-out solvent extraction for the off-line preconcentration of benzalkonium chloride in capillary electrophoresis

The use of salting-out effect for the off-line preconcentration of charged analytes in capillary electrophoresis is demonstrated for the first time. Using benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as model compound, a mixture of cationic surfactants consisting of even-numbered alkylbenzyl quaternary ammonium homologues (C8-C18), the addition of appropriate amounts of sodium chloride and acetonitrile in the sample solution (2 mL sample volume) was found to be capable of providing ca. 40-fold enhancement in detection sensitivity. In addition to affording a preconcentrating effect due to the extraction of BAK in the smaller volume water-miscible organic solvent phase (acetonitrile), the organic solvent also serves to improve the peak area and shape of the longer chain surfactants. Optimal experimental conditions, such as volume of acetonitrile and concentration of sodium chloride, for the preconcentration of BAK with good preconcentration factors and reproducibility were investigated. The usefulness of the present method was demonstrated for the improved determination of BAK present in commercially available industrial and pharmaceutical products.     

高效液相色谱法同时测定化妆品中的3种苯扎氯铵同系物

建立了采用高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测器(HPLC-DAD)同时检测化妆品中3种苯扎氯铵同系物(n-C12H25-C9H13NCl、n-C14H29-C9H13NCl、n-C16H33-C9H13NCl)的方法。采用含0.5%甲酸的甲醇超声提取样品,以CAPCELL PAK SCX色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm)分离,流动相为40 mmol/L乙酸铵水溶液(含0.1%三乙胺,pH 4.0)和乙腈,梯度洗脱,流速1.0 mL/min,检测波长260 nm,柱温25 ℃,进样量20 μL。该方法的检出限50.0 mg/kg,定量限200.0 mg/kg,线性范围5.0～3000.0 mg/L,加标回收率92.5%～102.1%,相对标准偏差为3.81%～6.66%。结果表明,该方法快速、准确,能够同时测定化妆品中3种苯扎氯铵同系物。     

Study of the interfacial polycondensation of isocyanate in the preparation of benzalkonium chloride loaded microcapsules

The preparation of benzalkonium chloride loaded microcapsules was performed by interfacial polycondensation of isocyanates. The present study was made in order to clarify parameters affecting microcapsule wall formation during the course of polymerization. The results presented here show that many interrelated parameters are involved during the microcapsule formation. Each individual component introduced in the preparation was shown to have an effect either on the morphology of the microcapsules or on the mechanical resistance. Benzalkonium chloride seemed to interact mainly in the interfacial polymer precipitation step through a salt effect, or influence the polycondensation reaction rate acting as a catalyst. A contribution of the hydroxylic functions of the surfactant in the polycondensation reaction of the isocyanate was also highlighted. Finally, the organic phase composition was found to be able to modulate the reactivity of hydroxylic functions of the surfactant, leading to very slow reactions in pure xylene. These effects were related to the characteristics of the microcapsules obtained according to different compositions of the formulation system.     

Photoelectron transfer in reverse micelles. Photoreduction of cytochrome-c

The photoreduction of cytochrome-c (Fe³⁺C) by N-methylphenothiazine (MPTH) excited state was studied in AOT reverse micelles. The back transfer from reduced cytochrome-c to MPTH cation can be intercepted if a donor such as N-benzylnicotinamide (BNA) is co-solubilized in the micelle. In such a system, irreversibly reduced cytochrome-c has been observed by continuous irradiation.     

毛细管电泳法同时测定复方化学消毒剂中醋酸洗必泰和苯扎氯铵

建立了复方化学消毒剂中常用有效成分醋酸洗必泰和苯扎氯铵(C12-BAC、C14-BAC及C16-BAC)同时分离测定的毛细管电泳(CE)方法。以37 cm×50 μm未涂层熔融石英毛细管为分离柱,以150 mmol/L磷酸二氢钠-62.5 mmol/L磷酸(pH 2.5)缓冲液(含体积分数为40%的乙腈)为分离缓冲溶液,50 mmol/L醋酸-乙腈(体积比为1:1)为样品介质,检测波长为214 nm。方法的日内及日间精密度分别小于3.0%及3.7%。醋酸洗必泰、C12-BAC、C14-BAC及C16-BAC的检出限(信噪比为3)分别为0.3、0.5、0.5、0.5 mg/L,定量限(信噪比为10)分别为1.0、1.5、1.5和1.5 mg/L,在1.0～400、1.5～200、1.5～200和1.5～200 mg/L范围内,4种有效成分的校正峰面积与相应质量浓度均具有良好的线性关系,相关系数分别为0.9995、0.9998、0.9997和0.9998。加标回收率为93.83%～104.97%。将该法用于实际样品分析,并与液相色谱的分析结果进行比对,获得满意结果。     

Volume behavior of mixed micelles of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride and bromide

Densities of aqueous solutions of mixtures of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) have been measured as a function of total molality at constant composition and the apparent molar volumes of the mixtures were derived from the density data. The partial molar volumes of monomeric surfactant mixtures, the molar volumes of mixed micelles, and the volumes of formation of mixed micelles were evaluated and are compared with those for decyltrimethylammonium bromide (DeTAB) and DTAB mixtures. The partial molar volumes of monomeric surfactant mixtures and the molar volumes of mixed micelles are observed to depend linearly on the monomer and micelle compositions, respectively. Although the volume of formation of mixed micelles of the DeTAB-DTAB mixture depends on the micellar composition, that of the DTAC-DTAB mixture is observed to be almost independent of the micellar composition. This suggests that the volumes of the counter ions in the micellar solutions are almost equal to those in the monomeric solutions.     

A stability-indicating HPLC method for the determination of benzalkonium chloride in 0.5% tramadol ophthalmic solution

Summary A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure employing ultraviolet detection for the analysis of benzalkonium chloride in 0.5% Tramadol ophthalmic solution is reported. The method requires minimal sample pretreatment and is sensitive, accurate, and reproducible. The peak area versus BAK concentration is linear over the range of 50–150% of its label claim of 0.05 mg/mL. The mean absolute recovery of BAK using the described method is 100.2±1.2%, (mean ±SD, n=10). A stress study with heat, acid, base and UV radiation indicates that the method is stabilityindicating with no interference from drug or degradation products.     

Localisation and quantification of benzalkonium chloride in eye tissue by TOF-SIMS imaging and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

Benzalkonium (BAK) chloride is the most commonly used preservative in eye drops. It is generally composed of benzyldimethyldodecylammonium C₁₂ and benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium C₁₄ and is supposed to increase penetration of active compounds. However, numerous studies have reported its toxic effect to ocular surface especially in long-term treatments like against glaucoma, a sight-threatening disease. Albino rabbits were treated with a hyperosmolar solution and a high concentration of BAK solution for 1 month. Enucleated eyes were cryo-sectioned and analysed by mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry imaging using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) has been used to characterize the spatial distribution and to determine the relative quantity of BAK at the surface of rabbit eye sections. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using a hybrid linear ion trap-Orbitrap® mass spectrometer was used to obtain relative quantification of BAK at the sample surface. TOF-SIMS images of BAK ions indicated a distribution at the ocular surface and in deeper structures. Didecyldimethylammonium (DDMAC), which is used in hospitals as a substitute for BAK, was also detected and showed an accumulation around the eyes. After extraction with acetonitrile and chromatographic separation using a Gemini C18 column and an original elution gradient, the relative quantities of BAK and DDMAC present in the whole eye section surface were determined. This LC-MS method was validated in terms of limits of quantification, linearity, repeatability and reproducibility and its feasibility was evaluated in surgically obtained human samples. Specimens of iris, lens capsule or trabecular meshwork were found with significant levels of BAK and DDMAC, thus confirming the penetration of BAK in deep ocular structures, with potential deleterious effects induced by this cytotoxic compound. The analytical method developed here could therefore be of primary interest in the field of pharmaco-toxicology in order to localise, identify and quantify drugs or xenobiotic compounds present at biological sample surfaces.

Energy transfer in near-field optics

When the probe tip of a near-field optical microscope illuminates nanoparticles with marked absorption bands, a large number of photons are absorbed before reaching the detector. These energy losses enhance the dark contrast usually observed in the vicinity of metallic nanoparticles. We demonstrate theoretically that this phenomenon can be exploited to image, in the optical frequency range, dissipative domains with a nanometer scale resolution. Simulations performed with noble-metal particles indicate that the detected signal significantly drops down when the excitation frequency is approaching the plasmon resonance of the particles.     

Preconcentration of benzalkonium chloride using sodium dodecyl sulfate attached to a strong anion exchange resin

A surfactant-mediated solid phase extraction procedure is applied for the preconcentration of benzalkonium (BA) chloride from a river water sample. Dodecyl sulfate is attached to a strong anion exchange resin and aqueous samples are passed through a column containing this surfactant-resin material. Benzalkonium chloride, a cationic compound very useful in cosmetics and an important fungicide, is adsorbed from the aqueous solution onto the sorbent via hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. When using traditional silica-based nonpolar sorbents, strong electrostatic interactions between the cationic analyte and the silica surface make elution difficult. Using the presented sorbent, electrostatic attractions occur between the benzalkonium cations and removable dodecyl sulfate anions. Removing this ion pair from the sorbent results in efficient elutions. The results of this solid-phase extraction (SPE) method are presented in terms of various rinse solutions parameters, breakthrough studies and a real river water sample.     

Quantitative determination of benzalkonium chloride in treated wood by solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

Ammoniacal copper quat (ACQ) compound wood preservative is comprised of copper and quaternary ammonium compounds with benzalkonium chloride (BAC) as the active ingredient. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (LC-UV) was developed for quantitative determination of BAC in treated wood. Five species of wood were used, Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis), Yezo spruce (Picea jezoensis), Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis), and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). BAC used in the present study was composed of 66% C12, 33% C14 and less than 1% C16. BAC was added to each wood species (500 mg) then extracted with HCl-ethanol (20 ml) and quantitatively determined with LC-UV (262 nm). Wood extractives from the heartwood of each species, except western hemlock, interfered with quantitative determination of BAC, but SPE with an Oasis MCX cartridge was effective in preventing this. Using the present methods, BAC homologue peaks were clearly confirmed without interference. Recoveries from wood ranged from 92 to 101% and the limit of quantitation was approximately 240 microg/g wood for the C12 and C14 homologues.