Determining the cytotoxicity of catanionic surfactant mixtures on HeLa cells

The cytotoxicity of commonly used synthetic surfactants and catanionic mixtures of those was evaluated using MTT on HeLa cells. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) for MTT reduction was calculated. The effect on chain length increase and inclusion of polyoxyethylene groups on the toxicity was tested on single surfactant systems. A general trend of increasing toxicity with increasing chain length and the presence of polyoxyethylene groups was observed. The measured IC₅₀ values of catanionic systems lie between those of participating surfactants. The increase in toxicity as the cationic surfactant is added to the anionic one is however not linear. A steep decrease of the IC₅₀ values (and therefore increase in the toxic properties) is observed immediately already at low concentrations of the cationic surfactants. This behavior is analogous to the enzyme activity in catanionic microemulsions.     

Effects of Mixed Anionic-Cationic Surfactants and Alcohol on Solubilization of Water-in-oil Microemulsions

The solubilization of water in w/o microemulsions formed with mixed-surfactants containing one anionic and one cationic surfactant and alcohol was studied as a function of alkyl chain length of oil (C6 to C16), mixed-surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB, or cetylpyridinium bromide CPB), and alcohol (1-butanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol). The results show that the solubilization of water in microemulsion systems increases significantly with the mixed-surfactants due to the synergistic effect resulting from the strong Coulombic interactions between cationic and anionic surfactants and the solubilizing efficiency increases as the chain length or concentration of alcohol increases. With increasing the oil chain length the solubilization for water increases, decreases, and has the chain length compatibility effect when the systems contain 1-hexanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol, respectively. The total solubilizing capacity increases as the surfactant concentration (keep the ratio of SDS to butanol constant) increases.     

Catanionic surfactants: microemulsion formation and solubilization

We review and summarize the three-phase behavior and solubilization of microemulsions with catanionic surfactants. Particular emphasis is placed to the three-phase behavior of mixtures of oil, water and alcohol with mixed surfactants containing one anionic and one cationic surfactant. The effect of salt and catanionic surfactant on the HLB composition and solubilizing capacity of surfactants to form microemulsions is discussed.     

Controlling the size and morphology of anisotropic nanostructures of nickel borate using microemulsions and their magnetic properties

Anisotropic nanostructures of nickel borate with controlled size and morphology have been synthesized by a precursor-mediated route. The nickel boron precursor has been synthesized using microemulsions using Tergitol as a surfactant. Microemulsions with various co-surfactants (1-butanol, 1-hexanol and 1-octanol) have been used to obtain uniform nanorods (dia 3-5 nm, length 25 nm) and nanospindles (dia 30 nm, length 400 nm). A higher chain length of the co-surfactant (octanol) leads to more uniform rods rather than spindles (butanol). These nanorods show antiferromagnetic behavior with the Néel temperature ranging from 44 to 47 K. Though there is no marked variation in N?el temperature, the magnetic moment increases drastically with the anisotropy of nanorods (thinner rods).     

Investigations into the bending constant and edge energy of bilayers of salt-free catanionic vesicles

Using molecular dynamics simulation, we performed theoretical calculations on the curvature constant and edge energy of bilayers of salt-free, zero-charged, cationic and anionic (catanionic) surfactant vesicles composed of alkylammonium cations (C(m)(+)) and fatty acid anions (C(n)(-)). Both the minimum size and edge energy of vesicles were calculated to examine the relation between the length of the surfactant molecules and the mechanical properties of the catanionic bilayers. Our simulation results clearly demonstrate that, when the chain lengths of the cationic and anionic surfactants are equal, both the edge energy and the rigidity of the catanionic bilayers increase dramatically, changing from around 0.36 to 2.77 kBT·nm(-1) and around 0.86 to 6.51 kBT·nm(-1), respectively. For the smallest catanionic vesicles, the curvature is not uniform and the surfactant molecules adopt a multicurvature arrangement in the vesicle bilayers. We suspect that the multicurvature bending of bilayers of catanionic vesicles is a common phenomenon in rigid bilayer systems, which could aid understanding of ion transport through bilayer membranes.     

A Novel Method for Uric Acid Determination Using CdS Quantum Dots as Fluorescence Probes

A novel method has been developed for uric acid analysis based on the quenching of fluorescence emission from CdS quantum dots by uric acid. Also, the effect of the presence of different surfactant agents, in order to improve the fluorescent signals of the CdS QDs, has been investigated, and the cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was selected. Under optimum conditions, the calibration graph was linear over the range of 0.1 ng/mL to 12.0 ng/mL (r = 0.9950). The limit of detection (S/N = 3) was 0.1 ng/mL. The RSD for ten determinations of 5.0 ng/mL uric acid was 3.5%. The method was applied to determine uric acid in human serum and urine sample with satisfactory results.     

Surfactant Chain Length Effect on the Structural Parameters of Nonionic Microemulsions

In this study we estimated the structural parameters of (water+propylene glycol)/sucrose esters/(benzaldhyde+ethanol) systems. The weight ratios of water/propylene glycol and that of benzaldhyde/ethanol equal 2 and 1, respectively. The sucrose esters were sucrose laurates (L595, L1695, and SM1200), sucrose myristate (M1695), sucrose palmitate (P1670), sucrose oleate (O1570), and sucrose stearate (S1570). The pseudoternary phase behavior at 37°C was explored to determine the extension of the microemulsion phase regions. A one‐phase microemulsion region extending from the oil rich region to the water rich corner was observed in these systems. It was found that minor changes in the surfactant chain length, structure, and composition suffice to provoke a considerable change in the aggregation number, core radius and interfacial area per surfactant and cosurfactant molecules head groups in the formed microemulsions. The interfacial area per surfactant head group decreases with the increase in the surfactant chain length. For a sucrose ester with a given chain length the interfacial area per surfactant head group decreases with the increase in the surfactant monoester content. The interfacial area per surfactant head group increases with the increase in the surfactant concentration and the water core volume in the formulated microemulsions.     

PHASE EQUILIBRIA IN AQUEOUS LOW MOLECULAR CATANIONIC SURFACTANT SYSTEMS

Phase equilibria in systems alkanoic acid-alkylamine-water have been determined at 298.2 K. In the system hexanoic acid (A) - hexylamine (B) only one isotropic solution phase is formed. This solution phase is in eqilibrium with almost pure water. The strong A₁B₁ complex shows catanionic surfactant properties as concluded from phase equilibria studies in the system A₁B₁-heptane-water. This system behaves like ordinary microemulsions. The dominant feature of the phase diagram with ethanoic acid -dodecylamine is the large D phase. In addition there exist a large solution phase, a hexagonal phase and a small cubic I phase.     

谷胱甘肽稳定的高性能CdTe/CdS核壳型量子点制备及应用于荧光免疫检测米醋中痕量黄曲霉毒素B1

谷胱甘肽作稳定剂水相合成CdTe/CdS核壳型量子点,以EDC/NHS为活化剂对黄曲霉毒素B1(AFB1)抗体进行量子点标记,然后用牛血清蛋白封闭抗体。通过对量子点和标记抗体性能的研究发现,CdTe/CdS核壳型量子点荧光的强度和稳定性较裸壳的CdTe量子点分别提高了4倍和2倍以上。由于谷胱甘肽碳链较长,量子点对抗体尤其是活性位点处的空间构型影响减少,从而改善了量子点标记抗体的稳定性和活性,CdTe/CdS标记的AFB1抗体与AFB1免疫前后荧光强度变化显示抗体至少可以稳定6 d。基于谷胱甘肽稳定的高性能CdTe/CdS量子点,建立了一种荧光免疫检测黄曲霉毒素B1的新方法。AFB1浓度在0.68～40 pmol/L之间荧光强度与浓度呈线性关系,相关系数(R2)为0.9914,检出限为0.3 pmol/L。方法已成功应用于米醋样品中痕量黄曲霉毒素B1的测定。     

Synthesis of ZnO nanorods and their application in quantum dot sensitized solar cells

ZnO nanorod thin films of different thicknesses and CdS quantum dots have been prepared by chemical method. X-ray diffraction pattern reveals that the CdS quantum dot and ZnO nanorods are of hexagonal structure. Field emission scanning electron microscope images show that the diameter of hexagonal shaped ZnO nanorods ranges from 110 to 200 nm and the length of the nanorod vary from 1.3 to 4.7 μm. CdS quantum dots with average size of 4 nm have been deposited onto ZnO nanorod surface using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method and the assembly of CdS quantum dot with ZnO nanorod has been used as photo-electrode in quantum dot sensitized solar cells. The efficiency of the fabricated CdS quantum dot-sensitized ZnO nanorod-based solar cell is 1.10 % and is the best efficiency reported so far for this type of solar cells.     

CdS/CdSe/TiO2多级空心微球光阳极中量子点覆盖度的提高

TiO₂多级空心微球(THHSs)具有高的比表面积、强的光散射效应以及良好的电子传输性质,以此作为光阳极材料,可以显著提升CdS/CdSe敏化太阳能电池(QDSSCs)的性能。但基于化学浴沉积方法获得的这一类电池中量子点在光阳极表面的覆盖度通常不高(50%左右),本文发展了一种基于表面选择性吸附原理的多步沉积方法,选取特定分子(正十二硫醇)限制已有量子点的生长,通过二次沉积成功提高了CdS/CdSe在TiO₂多级空壳微球表面的覆盖度。使用此方法最终得到高达85.4%的覆盖度。结果表明,量子点覆盖度的增加有效提高了电池对太阳光的利用率,使得光电流获得了明显的增加。同时,二氧化钛空白表面积的减小还可以抑制电子和空穴的复合。优化后的电池光电流密度为15.69 mA·cm^-2,填充因子为0.583,电压为0.605 V,最高光电转换效率为5.30%。     

水溶性CdSe/CdS量子点的合成及其与牛血清蛋白的共轭作用

用巯基乙酸(TGA)作为稳定剂，合成了水溶性的CdSe和核壳结构的CdSe/CdS半导体量子点。吸收光谱和荧光光谱研究表明，核壳结构的CdSe/CdS半导体量子点比单一的CdSe量子点具有更优异的发光特性。用TEM、电子衍射(ED)和XPS分别表征了CdSe和CdSe/CdS纳米微粒的结构、形貌及分散性。红外光谱和核磁共振谱证实了巯基乙酸分子中的硫原子和氧原子与纳米微粒表面的金属离子发生了配位作用。在pH值为7.4的条件下，将合成的CdSe和CdSe/CdS量子点直接与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)相互作用。实验发现，两种量子点均对BSA的荧光产生较强的静态猝灭作用；而BSA对两种量子点的荧光则具有显著的荧光增敏作用，存在BSA时CdSe/CdS量子点的荧光增强是不存在BSA时体系荧光强度的3倍。     

Electronic absorption spectroscopy of cobalt ions in diluted magnetic semiconductor quantum dots: demonstration of an isocrystalline core/shell synthetic method.

This paper reports the application of ligand-field electronic absorption spectroscopy to probe Co(2+) dopant ions in diluted magnetic semiconductor quantum dots. It is found that standard inverted micelle coprecipitation methods for preparing Co(2+)-doped CdS (Co(2+):CdS) quantum dots yield dopant ions predominantly bound to the nanocrystal surfaces. These Co(2+):CdS nanocrystals are unstable with respect to solvation of surface-bound Co(2+), and time-dependent absorption measurements allow identification of two transient surface-bound intermediates involving solvent-cobalt coordination. Comparison with Co(2+):ZnS quantum dots prepared by the same methods, which show nearly isotropic dopant distribution, indicates that the large mismatch between the ionic radii of Co(2+) (0.74 A) and Cd(2+) (0.97 A) is responsible for exclusion of Co(2+) ions during CdS nanocrystal growth. An isocrystalline core/shell preparative method is developed that allows synthesis of internally doped Co(2+):CdS quantum dots through encapsulation of surface-bound ions beneath additional layers of CdS.     

Determination of silver ion with cadmium sulfide quantum dots modified by bismuthiol II as fluorescence probe

CdS quantum dots (QDs) modified with bismuthiol II potassium salt is prepared in one step. Based on the characteristic fluorescence enhancement of CdS QDs at 480 nm by silver ions, simultaneously, a red shift of fluorescence emission bands of CdS QDs from 460 to 480 nm is observed. A simple, rapid, sensitive and specific detection method for silver ion is proposed. Under optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity of CdS QDs was linearly proportional to silver ion concentration from 0.01 to 5.0 micromol L(-1) with a detection limit of 1.6 nmol L(-1). In comparison with single organic fluorophores, functionalized CdS quantum dots are brighter, more stable against photobleaching and do not suffer from blinking. Furthermore, the proposed method shows higher sensitivity and selectivity. A possible fluorescence enhancement mechanism is also studied.     

Phase behavior in mixtures of cationic and anionic surfactants in aqueous solutions

Phase behavior of cationic/anionic surfactant mixtures of the same chain length (n=10, 12 or 14) strongly depends on the molar ratio and actual concentration of the surfactants. Precipitation of catanionic surfactant and mixed micelles formation are observed over the concentration range investigated. Coacervate and liquid crystals are found to coexist in the transition region from crystalline catanionic surfactant to mixed micelles.The addition of oppositely charged surfactant diminishes the surface charge density at the mixed micelle/solution interface and enhances the apparent degree of counterion dissociation from mixed micelles. Cationic surfactants have a greater tendency to be incorporated in mixed micelles than anionic ones.     

Surface-modified CdS quantum dots as luminescent probes for sulfadiazine determination

A novel, sensitive and convenient determine technology based on the quenching of the fluorescence intensity of functionalized CdS quantum dots by sulfadiazine was proposed. Luminescent CdS semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) modified by thioglycollic acid (TGA) were synthesized with the microwave method. The modified CdS QDs are water-soluble, stable and highly luminescent. The possible mechanism for the reaction was also discussed. When sulfadiazine was added into the CdS QDs colloid solution, the surface of CdS QDs generates the electrostatic interaction in aqueous medium, which induces the quenching of fluorescence emission at 489 nm. Under optimum condition, the fluorescence intensity versus sulfadiazine concentration gave a linear response according Stern-Volmer equation with an excellent 0.9981 correlation coefficient. The linearity range of the calibration curve was 1.2 x 10(-5) to 2.13 x 10(-3) mol L(-1). The limit of detection (3delta) is 8.0 micromol L(-1). The relative standard deviation for five determinations of 0.13 x 10(-3)mol L(-1) sulfadiazine is 1.4%. The concentrations of sulfadiazine injections were determined by the proposed method with a satisfactory result.     

CdS/TiO_2纳米管可见光催化剂的制备、表征及光催化活性

以纳米颗粒TiO2(P25)为原料,采用水热合成法制备了具有锐钛矿晶型的TiO2纳米管(TNTs),考察了水热反应温度和焙烧温度对TNTs形貌和结构的影响.以具有双官能团结构的有机分子2-巯基丙酸为偶联剂,采用原位合成和在线组装的方法将CdS量子点(QDs)负载于TNTs上,制得了CdS/TNTs可见光催化剂,研究了2-巯基丙酸浓度对CdS负载量和CdS/TNTs光催化活性的影响.结果表明,在水热温度为150oC,焙烧温度为400oC的条件下,可制得管径为8～10nm,管壁为2～3nm,管长为数百纳米的锐钛矿型TNTs.经CdSQDs修饰后,TNTs的吸收阈值拓展至580nm,在模拟可见光照射下,CdS/TNTs表现出优异的光催化降解罗丹明B性能.     

Effect of chain length on binding of fatty acids to Pluronics in microemulsions

We investigated the effect of fatty acid chain length on the binding capacity of drug and fatty acid to Pluronic F127-based microemulsions. This was accomplished by using turbidity experiments. Pluronic-based oil-in-water microemulsions of various compositions were synthesized and titrated to turbidity with concentrated Amitriptyline, an antidepressant drug. Sodium salts of C(8), C(10), or C(12) fatty acid were used in preparation of the microemulsion and the corresponding binding capacities were observed. It has been previously determined that, for microemulsions prepared with sodium caprylate (C(8) fatty acid soap), a maximum of 11 fatty acid molecules bind to the microemulsion per 1 molecule of Pluronic F127 and a maximum of 12 molecules of Amitriptyline bind per molecule of F127. We have found that with increasing the chain length of the fatty acid salt component of the microemulsion, the binding capacity of both the fatty acid and the Amitriptyline to the microemulsion decreases. For sodium salts of C(8), C(10) and C(12) fatty acids, respectively, a maximum of approximately 11, 8.4 and 8.3 molecules of fatty acid molecules bind to 1 Pluronic F127 molecule. We propose that this is due to the decreasing number of free monomers with increasing chain length. As chain length increases, the critical micelle concentration (cmc) decreases, thus leading to fewer monomers. Pluronics are symmetric tri-block copolymers consisting of propylene oxide (PO) and ethylene oxide (EO). The polypropylene oxide block, PPO is sandwiched between two polyethylene oxide (PEO) blocks. The PEO blocks are hydrophilic while PPO is hydrophobic portion in the Pluronic molecule. Due to this structure, we propose that the fatty acid molecules that are in monomeric form most effectively diffuse between the PEO "tails" and bind to the hydrophobic PPO groups.     

CdS量子点的制备及细胞膜初步荧光标记

以巯基乙酸为稳定剂,通过控制反应温度、反应时间及pH值,在水相中合成了稳定的受激发出紫光、蓝光、绿光、黄光和红光的CdS量子点;通过紫外可见吸收光谱、荧光光谱和X射线衍射谱(XRD)对产物的光学性能和晶体结构进行了表征,结果表明所合成的CdS量子点分散性较好,量子产率为8%,为立方晶型,粒径约1 nm;利用荧光倒置显微镜观察了量子点在洋葱内表皮细胞膜上聚集及受激发射荧光行为,实现细胞膜初步标记.     

Cosolvent effects on the spontaneous formation of vesicles from 1:1 anionic and cationic surfactant mixtures

This paper aims to provide a practical catanionic vesicle-boosting method by means of cosolvent addition in water and to propose a theoretical explanation which can delineate the general trend of cosolvent effects and elucidate the possible role of cosolvent in the formation of catanionic vesicles. Effects of four homologous cosolvents (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol) on the spontaneous formation of vesicles from eight 1:1 anionic-cationic mixed surfactant systems, sodium alkyl sulfates-alkyltrimethylammonium bromides (C(n)SO4Na-C(m)N(CH3)3Br; n = 12, 14; m = 8, 10, 12, 14), at a total surfactant concentration of 10 mM were systematically studied. The experimental results revealed that varied changes in vesicle formability of different mixed surfactant systems may result from various kinds and amounts of cosolvent. Four types of cosolvent effects, however, can be classified. Among them, cosolvent effects type 2 and type 3 would serve the purpose and were exemplified by C12SO4Na-C10N(CH3)3Br, C14SO4Na-C10N(CH3)3Br, and C12SO4Na-C12N(CH3)3Br mixed surfactants. Furthermore, the effectiveness of vesicle boosting increases in the order 1-butanol > 1-propanol > ethanol > methanol. An explanation of cosolvent effects based on the medium dielectric constant was then proposed.