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.     

Morphology of hybrid polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) micelles: analytical ultracentrifugation and SANS studies

Morphology and structure of aqueous block copolymer solutions based on polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) of two different compositions, a cationic surfactant, cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC), and either platinic acid (H2PtCl6.6H2O) or Pt nanoparticles were studied using a combination of analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). These studies combining methods contributing supplemental and analogous structural information allowed us to comprehensively characterize the complex hybrid systems and to discover an isotope effect when H2O was replaced with D2O. In particular, TEM shows formation of both micelles and larger aggregates after incorporation of platinic acid, yet the amount of aggregates depends on the H2PtCl6.6H2O concentration. AUC reveals the presence of micelles and micellar clusters in the PS-b-PEO block copolymers solution and even larger (supermicellar) aggregates in hybrids (with CPC). Conversely, SANS applied to D2O solutions of the similar species indicates that micelles are spherical and no other micellar species are found in block copolymer solutions. To reconcile the SANS and AUC data, we carried out AUC examination of the corresponding D2O block copolymer solutions. These measurements demonstrate a pronounced isotope effect on micelle aggregation and micelle size, i.e., no micelle aggregation in D2O solutions, revealing good agreement of AUC and SANS data.     

Micellization and relaxation kinetics of diblock copolymers in dilute solution based on A–W theory: I. Description of a model for core–corona type micelles

On the basis of the Aniansson–Wall (A–W) theory, a calculation method for the time evolution of association-number distribution during micelle formation of diblock copolymer in solution is presented. The rate constant for the elemental process of a chain expulsion from a micelle is evaluated as a function of the association number by application of Halperin's treatment based on the Kramers rate theory. Numerical calculations are carried out for both cases of micellization from unimer state and micellar relaxation under a temperature jump from one micellar state to another. In the micelle relaxation, the micelle size changes stepwise with two steps, clearly showing the characteristic feature of the A–W mechanism, where there exist two processes, the fast process undergoing by consuming/releasing free unimers and the slow process accompanied with almost no change of unimer concentration. On the contrary, in the micellization from unimer state, the very fast process is observed, where the free chains get together quickly to form temporal micelles, and is followed by an ordinary micellar relaxation.     

Phase behavior of a mixture of poly(isoprene)-poly(oxyethylene) diblock copolymer and poly(oxyethylene) surfactant in water

The phase behavior of a mixture of poly(isoprene)-poly(oxyethylene) diblock copolymer (PI-PEO or C250EO70) and poly(oxyethylene) surfactant (C12EO3, C12EO5, C12EO6, C12EO7, and C12EO9) in water was investigated by phase study, small-angle X-ray scattering, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The copolymer is not soluble in surfactant micellar cubic (I1), hexagonal (H1), and lamellar (Lalpha) liquid crystals, whereas an isotropic copolymer fluid phase coexists with these liquid crystals. Although the PI-PEO is relatively lipophilic, it increases the cloud temperatures of C12EO3-9 aqueous solutions at a relatively high PI-PEO content in the mixture. Most probably, in the copolymer-rich region, PI-PEO and C12EOn form a spherical composite micelle in which surfactant molecules are located at the interface and the PI chains form an oil pool inside. In the C12EO5/ and C12EO6/PI-PEO systems, one kind of micelles is produced in the wide range of mixing fraction, although macroscopic phase separation was observed within a few days after the sample preparation. On the other hand, small surfactant micelles coexist with copolymer giant micelles in C12EO7/ and C12EO9/PI-PEO aqueous solutions in the surfactant-rich region. The micellar shape and size are calculated using simple geometrical relations and compared with DLS data. Consequently, a large PI-PEO molecule is not soluble in surfactant bilayers (Lalpha phase), infinitely long rod micelles (H1 phase), and spherical micelles (I1 phase or hydrophilic spherical micelles) as a result of the packing constraint of the large PI chain. However, the copolymer is soluble in surfactant rod micelles (C12EO5 and C12EO6) because a rod-sphere transition of the surfactant micelles takes place and the long PI chains are incorporated inside the large spherical micelles.     

混合反胶束的电导与微结构研究

反胶束是两亲分子在非极性溶剂中形成的一种有序组合体，在医药、化工、采油、胶束催化及酶催化等领域中有重要应用．与胶束溶液相比，人们对反胶束的形成与结构的了解至今仍不充分．特别是对于由混合表面活性剂形成的反胶束的研究几乎无人涉及．本文采用动态光散射、电导及荧光光谱等手段对阴离子表面活性剂AOT与非离子表面活性剂形成的混合反胶束进行了研究，旨在探讨利用表面活性剂的复配来调节和控制反胶束的结构和性能．亚实验部分二异辛基磺化琉璃酸钠（AOT，Sigma公司）；Brij30为含4个氧乙烯基（EO基）的十二碳醇（AcrosOrgani…     

Effect of phenol on the aggregation characteristics of an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide triblock copolymer P65 in aqueous solution

The effects of phenol on the micellization, micellar growth, and phase separation of a poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) amphiphilic copolymer (Pluronic P65: EO19 PO30 EO19) in aqueous solution have been studied by cloud point, viscosity, dynamic light scattering (DLS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectroscopy, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Various concentrations of P65 have been chosen to estimate the effect of phenol on different concentration regions of P65. Phenol interacts quite differently at low concentrations (0-2%) than at high concentrations (2-10%) of P65, as per the observation that phenol is more predominant at smaller concentrations of P65. A marked decrease in the cloud points of the P65 solutions is observed in presence of phenol. The critical micelle temperature (CMT) of P65 shows a synergistic effect of phenol on P65 aggregates. Micellar transitions, phase separation, and aggregation behaviours like micellization and micellar growth in the presence of phenol have been observed by combining viscometry, DLS, DSC, and CP. DLS shows that the effect of phenol is predominant at high temperatures. SANS shows a high increase in axial ratio and aggregation numbers in the presence of phenol at fixed concentrations of P65. Fluorescence data illustrate that addition of phenol makes micelles polar but at the same time its favours aggregation. Water-soluble phenol (present in low concentrations) forms aggregates with P65, which can be separated by cloud point extraction, making this study interesting for separation of phenol from the phenol-water system.     

Concentration, temperature, and salt-induced micellization of a triblock copolymer Pluronic L64 in aqueous media

The effect of copolymer concentration, temperature, and sodium halides (NaI, NaBr, NaCl, and NaF) on micellization and micellar properties of a poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) amphiphilic copolymer (Pluronic L64: EO13PO30EO13), was examined by different methods such as dye spectral change, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small angle neutron scattering (SANS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), viscosity, and cloud point (CP). Temperature/polymer concentration/salt dependent aggregation behavior of L64 was observed. The data on critical micelle concentration (CMC), critical micelle temperature (CMT), (CP), micelle size, and shape are reported. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) showed temperature dependent changes in C-O-C stretching variation band towards higher wave numbers and broadening of band width during the micellization process; this was attributed to increase in proportion of the anhydrous methyl groups, while the proportion of the hydrated methyl groups was decreased. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) provides CMTs and CPs from the same experiment. CMC values derived from dye spectral change, decrease significantly with the addition of salt. The increases in salt/copolymer concentration lower the onset temperature of micellization (CMT). Halide anions influence both CMT and CP in the order of F- > Cl- > Br- > I- when total salt and copolymer concentration kept constant. SANS results show the increase of inter-micellar interaction due to the increase in temperature/salt concentration; this is supported by viscosity data.     

Influence of a hydrophobic diol on the micellar transitions of Pluronic P85 in aqueous solution

Micellization behavior of an amphiphilic ethylene oxide-propylene oxide-ethylene oxide tri-block copolymer Pluronic P85 [(EO)(26)(PO)(39)-(EO)(26)] in aqueous solution and in the presence of a hydrophobic C(14)diol (also known as Surfynol104) was examined by physico-chemical methods such as viscometry, cloud point (CP) and scattering techniques viz. dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). The addition of diol decreases the cloud point and gelation temperature of aqueous Pluronic P85 copolymer solution. DLS and SANS measurements of the polymer in aqueous solution indicated micellar growth and sphere to rod transition in the presence of diol. Surfynol 104 is a sparingly water soluble diol surfactant with a solubility of approximately 0.1 wt%. However, up on addition to Pluronic solution, diol gets incorporated in the block copolymer micelles and leads to structural transition of the micelles. An increase in the temperature and the presence of added sodium chloride in the solution further enhances this effect. The addition of hydrophobic C(14)diol increases the hydrodynamic size and aggregation numbers of the micellar system. The micellar parameters for the copolymer in the presence of C(14)diol are reported at different temperatures and added sodium chloride concentrations.     

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.     

A small-angle neutron scattering study of sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly(propylene oxide) methacrylate mixed micelles

Mixed micelle of protonated or deuterated sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS and SDSd25, respectively) and poly(propylene oxide) methacrylate (PPOMA) are studied by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). In all the cases the scattering curves exhibit a peak whose position changes with the composition of the system. The main parameters which characterize mixed micelles, i.e., aggregation numbers of SDS and PPOMA, geometrical dimensions of the micelles and degree of ionisation are evaluated from the analysis of the SANS curves. The position q(max) of the correlation peak can be related to the average aggregation numbers of SDS-PPOMA and SDSd25-PPOMA mixed micelles. It is found that the aggregation number of SDS decreases upon increasing the weight ratio PPOMA/SDS (or SDSd25). The isotopic combination, which uses the "contrast effect" between the two micellar systems, has allowed us to determine the mixed micelle composition. Finally, the SANS curves were adjusted using the RMSA for the structure factor S(q) of charged spherical particles and the form factor P(q) of spherical core-shell particle. This analysis confirms the particular core-shell structure of the SDS-PPOMA mixed micelle, i.e., a SDS "core" micelle surrounded by the shell formed by PPOMA macromonomers. The structural parameters of mixed micelles obtained from the analysis of the SANS data are in good agreement with those determined previously by conductimetry and fluorescence studies.     

Sphere-to-rod transition of non-surface-active amphiphilic diblock copolymer micelles: a small-angle neutron scattering study

Micellization behavior of amphiphilic diblock copolymers with strong acid groups, poly(hydrogenated isoprene)-block-poly(styrenesulfonate), was investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). We have reported previously (Kaewsaiha, P.; Matsumoto, K.; Matsuoka, H. Langmuir 2005, 21, 9938) that this strongly ionic amphiphilic diblock copolymer shows almost no surface activity but forms micelles in water. In this study, the size, shape, and internal structures of the micelles formed by these unique copolymers in aqueous solution were duly investigated. The SANS data were well described by the theoretical form factor of a core-shell model and the Pedersen core-corona model. The micellar shape strongly depends on the hydrophobic chain length of the block copolymer. The polymer with the shortest hydrophobic chain was suggested to form spherical micelles, whereas the scattering curves of the longer hydrophobic chain polymers showed a q-1 dependence, reflecting the formation of rodlike micelles. Furthermore, the addition of salt at high concentration also induced the sphere-to-rod transition in micellar shape as a result of the shielding effect of electrostatic repulsion. The corona thickness was almost constant up to the critical salt concentration (around 0.2 M) and then decreased with further increases in salt concentration, which is in qualitatively agreement with existing theories. The spherical/rodlike micelle ratio was also constant up to the critical salt concentration and then decreased. The micelle size and shape of this unique polymer could be described by the common concept of the packing parameter, but the anomalously stable nature of the micelle (up to 1 M NaCl) is a special characteristic.     

Binding of sodium dodecyl sulfate and hexaethylene glycol mono-n-dodecyl ether to the block copolymer L64: electromotive force, microcalorimetry, surface tension, and small angle neutron scattering investigations of mixed micelles and polymer/micellar surfactant complexes

The interactions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with the triblock copolymer L64 (EO13-PO30-EO13) and hexaethylene glycol mono-n-dodecyl ether (C12EO6) were studied using electromotive force, isothermal titration microcalorimetry, differential scanning microcalorimetry, and surface tension measurements. In certain regions of binding, mixed micelles are formed, and here we could evaluate an interaction parameter using regular solution theory. The mixed micelles of L64 with both SDS and C12EO6 exhibit synergy. When L64 is present in its nonassociated state, it forms polymer/micellar SDS complexes at SDS concentrations above the critical aggregation concentration (cac). The cac is well below the critical micellar concentration (cmc) of pure SDS, and a model suggesting how bound micelles are formed at the cac in the presence of a polymer is described. The interaction of nonassociated L64 with C12EO6 is a very rare example of strong binding between a nonionic surfactant and a nonionic polymer, and C12EO6/L64 mixed micelles are formed. We also carried out small angle neutron scattering measurement to determine the structure of the monomeric polymer/micellar SDS complex, as well as the mixed L64/C12EO6 aggregates. In these experiments, contrast matching was achieved by using the h and d forms of SDS, as well as C12EO6. During the early stages of the formation of polymer-bound SDS micelles, SDS aggregates with aggregation numbers of approximately 20 were found and such complexes contain 4-6 bound L64 monomers. The L64/C12EO6 data confirmed the existence of mixed micelles, and structural information involving the composition of the mixed micelle and the aggregation numbers were evaluated.     

Room temperature sphere-to-rod growth and gelation of PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers in aqueous salt solutions

The effects of NaCl and KF on the sphere-to-rod micellar growth behavior of triblock copolymers having two different compositions, (EO)20(PO)70(EO)20 (P123) and (EO)26(PO)40(EO)26 (P85), have been studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and dilute solution viscometry. NaCl can effectively tune the sphere-to-rod growth temperature of the micelles of both these copolymers and induce micellar growth down to the room temperature and below. The growth behavior is found to be dependent on the composition of the copolymer as P123 being more hydrophobic shows the room temperature growth in the presence of ethanol at significantly lesser NaCl concentration than the less hydrophobic copolymer P85. DLS studies depict for the first time the growth driven transition of the copolymer solutions from dilute to semi-dilute regime as a function of copolymer and salt concentrations. KF can also induce room temperature growth of the P123 micelles at lesser salt concentration than NaCl but it fails to induce any such growth of the P85 micelles. A pseudo-binary temperature-concentration phase diagram on 15% copolymer solutions shows the variation of the sphere-to-rod transition temperature and the cloud point of the copolymer solutions as a function of salt concentration.     

Self-assembly of charged amphiphilic diblock copolymers with insoluble blocks of decreasing hydrophobicity: from kinetically frozen colloids to macrosurfactants

We have investigated the self-assembly properties in aqueous solution of amphiphilic diblock copolymers with insoluble blocks of different hydrophobicity and demonstrated that the condition to obtain dynamic micelles is to design samples with insoluble blocks of low enough hydrophobicity. We focus here on results with new water-soluble amphiphilic diblock copolymers poly(diethyleneglycol ethylether acrylate)-b-poly(acrylic acid), or PDEGA-b-PAA. The physical characteristics of PDEGA-b-PAA micelles at high ionization have been determined by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). We show that PDEGA-b-PAA samples form micelles at thermodynamic equilibrium. The critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) decrease strongly with ionic strength and temperature due to a solvent quality decrease for, respectively, the corona and the core. This behavior of reversible aggregation is remarkable as compared to the behavior of kinetically frozen aggregation that has been widely observed with samples of similar architecture and different hydrophobic blocks, for example, poly(styrene)-b-poly(acrylic acid), PS-b-PAA, and poly(butyl acrylate)-b-poly(acrylic acid), PBA-b-PAA. We have measured the interfacial tension between water and the homopolymers PDEGA and PBA at, respectively, 3 and 20 mN/m at room temperature, which permits one to estimate the energy cost to extract a unimer from a micelle. The results are consistent with a micelle association that is fast for PDEGA-b-PAA and kinetically frozen PBA-b-PAA. Hence, PDEGA-b-PAA samples form a new system of synthetic charged macrosurfactant with unique properties of fast dynamic association, tunable charge, and water solubility even at temperatures and NaCl concentrations as high as 65 °C and 1 M.     

Chemical analysis and aqueous solution properties of charged amphiphilic block copolymers PBA-b-PAA synthesized by MADIX

We have linked the structural and dynamic properties in aqueous solution of amphiphilic charged diblock copolymers poly(butyl acrylate)-b-poly(acrylic acid), PBA-b-PAA, synthesized by controlled radical polymerization, with the physico-chemical characteristics of the samples. Despite product imperfections, the samples self-assemble in melt and aqueous solutions as predicted by monodisperse microphase separation theory. However, the PBA core are abnormally large; the swelling of PBA cores is not due to AA (the Flory parameter chi(PBA/PAA), determined at 0.25, means strong segregation), but to h-PBA homopolymers (content determined by liquid chromatography at the point of exclusion and adsorption transition, LC-PEAT). Beside the dominant population of micelles detected by scattering experiments, capillary electrophoresis CE analysis permitted detection of two other populations, one of h-PAA, and the other of free PBA-b-PAA chains, that have very short PBA blocks and never self-assemble. Despite the presence of these free unimers, the self-assembly in solution was found out of equilibrium: the aggregation state is history dependant and no unimer exchange between micelles occurs over months (time-evolution SANS). The high PBA/water interfacial tension, measured at 20 mN/m, prohibits unimer exchange between micelles. PBA-b-PAA solution systems are neither at thermal equilibrium nor completely frozen systems: internal fractionation of individual aggregates can occur.     

Structure and interactions of block copolymer micelles of Brij 700 studied by combining small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering

Spherical micelles of the diblock copolymer/surfactant Brij 700 (C(18)EO(100)) in water (D(2)O) solution have been investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). SAXS and SANS experiments are combined to obtain complementary information from the two different contrast conditions of the two techniques. Solutions in a concentration range from 0.25 to 10 wt % and at temperatures from 10 to 80 degrees C have been investigated. The data have been analyzed on absolute scale using a model based on Monte Carlo simulations, where the micelles have a spherical homogeneous core with a graded interface surrounded by a corona of self-avoiding, semiflexible interacting chains. SANS and SAXS data were fitted simultaneously, which allows one to obtain extensive quantitative information on the structure and profile of the core and corona, the chain interactions, and the concentration effects. The model describes the scattering data very well, when part of the EO chains are taken as a "background"contribution belonging to the solvent. The effect of this becomes non-negligible at polymer concentrations as low as 2 wt %, where overlap of the micellar coronas sets in. The results from the analysis on the micellar structure, interchain interactions, and structure factor effects are all consistent with a decrease in solvent quality of water for the PEO block as the theta temperature of PEO is approached.     

Effects of block size of pluronic polymers on the water structure in the corona region and its effect on the electron transfer reactions

Effects of constituent block size of triblock copolymers on the nature of the water molecules in the corona region of their micelles have been investigated using time-resolved fluorescence measurements. The physical nature of the water molecules in the micellar corona region of the block copolymer, Pluronic F88 ([ethylene oxide (EO)]103-[propylene oxide (PO)]39-EO103), has been studied using a solubilized coumarin dye. Solvent reorientation time and rotational correlation time have been measured and compared with another block copolymer, Pluronic P123 (EO20-PO70-EO20), which has a different composition of the constituent PO and EO blocks. It is noted that due to the presence of larger number of EO blocks in F88 as compared with P123, the corona region of the former micelle is more hydrated than that of the latter. The solvent reorientation time and rotational correlation time are found to be relatively shorter for F88 as compared with P123. This indicates that the water molecules in the corona of the F88 micelle are more labile than those of P123, which is also supported from the estimated number of water molecules associated with each EO unit, measured from the size of each type of micelle and its aggregation number. To understand the effect of block size on the chemical reactions in these microheterogeneous media, electron transfer reactions have been carried out between different coumarin acceptors and N, N-dimethylaniline donor. The electron transfer results obtained in F88 micelles have been compared with those obtained in P123, and the results are rationalized on the basis of the relative hydration of the two triblock copolymer micelles.     

SANS from Pluronic P85 in d-water

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been used to investigate Pluronic P85 (EO₂₆PO₄₀EO₂₆) copolymer in deuterated water. A range of P85 fractions were measured for a wide sample temperature window. A rich phase behavior is reported. Unimers were observed below the critical micelle formation condition. At fixed P85 fraction, a number of micellar phases were observed upon increasing temperature; first spherical micelles, then cylindrical micelles, then lamellar micelles. At the highest temperature, a demixed lamellae phase was observed. Analysis of the SANS data consisted in fits to an empirical Guinier-Porod model that was appropriate for data fitting in the various phases at low P85 fractions. When the P85 fraction increased, an inter-particle structure factor was included to analyze SANS data from concentrated spherical micelles. At high P85 fractions, paracrystalline structures were observed as evidenced by an enhanced inter-particle interaction peak. A phase diagram for P85/d-water was obtained showing the various phases. Focusing on the spherical micelles phase for one sample composition, a core-shell model was used to fit SANS data and obtain sizes and scattering length densities. Using material balance equations, information such as the aggregation number (i.e., number of Pluronic macromolecules per micelle) and the number of hydration water molecules in the shell region are determined.     

Interaction of amphiphilic block copolymer micelles with surfactants

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

Structural investigation of the confinement of finite amounts of trehalose in water-containing sodium Bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate reversed micelles

The structural effect of trehalose confined in water-containing sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) reversed micelles at water to AOT molar ratio W = 5 and 10 as a function of the trehalose to AOT molar ratio T (0 < T < 0.1) has been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). SANS data analysis is consistent with the hypothesis that trehalose is encapsulated within the quite spherical hydrophilic micellar cores of water-containing reversed micelles, causing an increase of the aggregate size and a decrease of the polydispersion. Moreover, SANS results suggest that the trehalose confinement in water-containing reversed micelles involves marked changes on the molecular packing of the water-containing micellar cores. In particular, according to the obtained findings, we can hypothesize the intercalation of the trehalose molecules between the polar surfactant headgroups. The preferential solubilization in this specific nanodomain could explain the trehalose capability to prevent, upon dehydration, the transition to a gel phase, hindering serious damage to biostructures.