Gelation of spontaneously formed catanionic vesicles by water soluble polymers

The gelation of two spontaneously formed charged catanionic vesicles by four water soluble polymers was systematically studied by tube inversion method and rheology. Eight phase maps were successfully documented for the catanionic vesicle–polymer mixtures. The experimental results, as represented by the relaxation time and the storage modulus at 1 Hz, revealed that the catanionic vesicle–polymer interactions at play were of electrostatic and hydrophobic origin. Firstly, no association between charged catanionic vesicles and the polymer without charge/hydrophobic modification was observed due to lack of both electrostatic and hydrophobic effects. Secondly, hydrophobic interactions accounted for the association between the hydrophobically modified polymer without charge and charged catanionic vesicles with hydrophobic grafts of the polymer inserting in the catanionic vesicle bilayer. Thirdly, the positively charged polymer without hydrophobic modification could interact with negatively charged catanionic vesicles through electrostatic force on one hand but could not interact with positively charged catanionic vesicles on the other hand. Finally, the positively charged polymer with hydrophobic modification could interact both electrostatically and hydrophobically with negatively charged catanionic vesicles, resulting in the formation of strong gels. The hydrophobic interaction might even overcome the unfavorable electrostatic interaction between the positively charged vesicles and the polymer with positive charge/hydrophobic modification.     

甲酰胺与正负离子表面活性剂有序溶液的研究

对羧酸钠与烷基三甲基溴化铵1：1混合体系的研究表明：常温下各体系在不同比例甲酰胺（FA）／水混合溶剂中，表面张力随浓度变化均有明显的转折点，显示了混合体系中胶团的存在．实验中发现随混合溶剂中FA比例增加，各体系的临界胶团浓度（cmc）增大．在较高温度下发现在甲酰胺中亦存在着因胶团形成而产生的表面张力-浓度对数（γ－logc）曲线的转折点，利用相分离模型对体系胶团热力学参数进行了计算．并探讨了FA对正负离子表面活性剂囊泡的影响．     

正负离子表面活性剂反胶团与反相微乳研究

研究了以癸烷为油相的十一烯酸癸胺正负离子表面活性剂体系对水的加溶作用。结果表明此体系在一定组成范围内可以形成均匀透明的反胶团或反相微乳液。升高温度和添加酸、碱、盐可以使形成反胶团或反相微乳的组成范围扩大。在正负离子表面活性剂中加入离子型表面活性剂、特别是负离子型表面活性剂,也有类似的作用。     

Sugar-derived tricatenar catanionic surfactant: synthesis, self-assembly properties, and hydrophilic probe encapsulation by vesicles

A new sugar-derived tricatenar catanionic surfactant (TriCat) was developed to obtain stable vesicles that could be exploited for drug encapsulation. The presence of the sugar moiety led to the formation of highly hydrophilic stoichiometric catanionic surfactant systems. The three hydrophobic chains permitted vesicles to form spontaneously. The self-assembly properties (morphology, size, and stability) of TriCat were examined in water and in buffer solution. Encapsulation studies of a hydrophilic probe, arbutin, commonly used in cosmetics for its whitening properties, were performed to check the impermeability of the vesicle bilayer. The enhancement of hydrophobic forces by the three chains of TriCat prevented surfactant equilibrium between the bilayer and the solution and enabled the probe to be retained in the aqueous cavity of the vesicles for at least 30 h. Thus, the present study suggests that this tricatenar catanionic surfactant could be a promising delivery system for hydrophilic drugs.     

Electrostastic control of spontaneous curvature in catanionic reverse micelles

By means of small-angle neutron scattering and conductivity measurements, we study the microstructure of octylammoniumoctanoate/octane/water catanionic reverse microemulsions with an excess of anionic or cationic surfactant. Increasing the surface charge makes the microemulsion able to incorporate much more water than in the neutral case, up to 10 water molecules per surfactant. Even with charges in the surfactant film, wormlike micelles are present in the microemulsion domain. Along water dilution lines, the classical rod-to-sphere transition due to the minimization of the curvature energy of the rigid surfactant film is observed. When temperature is decreased, a re-entrant phase transition associated with the liquid-gas equilibrium of attractive cylinders is observed. Using the framework of the Tlusty-Safran theory, attraction could originate from junctions between wormlike reverse micelles. In any case, the spontaneous curvature of the catanionic surfactant film depends on both the temperature and the net charge, whatever the sign of the latter.     

Micelle-vesicle transitions in catanionic mixtures of SDS/DTAB induced by salt,temperature, and selective solvents: a dissipative particle dynamics simulation study

Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations are performed to study the factors that lead to the transition between micelle and vesicle in catanionic mixtures composed of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), with the aim of understanding and controlling the structures of this system. The phase behavior, kinetics of vesicle formation, and micelle–vesicle transitions induced by salt, temperature, and selective solvents are investigated systematically. In this research, phase diagram of SDS/DTAB mixture is constructed by simulations at different concentrations and composition fractions. It is consistent with experimental results. The kinetic process of catanionic vesicle formation is illustrated. It is clarified that the transition between micelle and vesicle can be controlled by properly adjusting the external conditions. More interestingly, the evolution condition and transition mechanism between micelle and vesicle induced by various conditions are revealed. The membrane thickness differences between vesicles formed at different external conditions are compared. Here, the predicted phenomenon is compared with experimental results whenever possible, and we try to make a connection between the simulation model and the reality of the experiments. These studies help to shed light on the microscopic details of micelle–vesicle transition in catanionic mixtures.     

Phase behavior and rheological properties of a salt-free catanionic surfactant TTAOH/LA/H2O system

Conventional cationic and anionic (catanionic) surfactant mixtures tend to form precipitates at the mixing molar ratio of the cationic and anionic surfactant of 1:1 because of the excess salt formed by their counterions. By using OH- and H+ as the counterions, however, excess salt can be eliminated, and salt-free catanionic systems can be obtained. Here, we report the detailed phase behavior and rheological properties of salt-free catanionic surfactant system of tetradecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (TTAOH)/lauric acid (LA)/H2O. With the variation of mixing molar ratio of LA to TTAOH (rho=nLA/nTTAOH), the system exhibits much richer phase behavior induced by growth and transition of aggregates. Correspondingly, the rheological property of the system changes significantly. Take the series of samples with fixed total surfactant concentration (cT) to be 15 mg.mL(-1), the system only forms a low viscous L 1 phase with a Newton fluid character at the TTAOH-rich side. With increasing rho, first a shear-thickening L1 phase region is observed at 0.70or=1.05, and finally, at rho>or=1.13, the excess LA will separate from the bulk solution and form a white top layer. Investigations were also carried out by varying c T at fixed rho and by changing temperature, respectively. It was found micelle growth would be greatly suppressed at higher temperatures. However, the vesicle phases showed a considerable resistance against temperature rise.     

Design of original bioactive formulations based on sugar-surfactant/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory catanionic self-assemblies: a new way of dermal drug delivery

A new kind of catanionic assembly was developed that associates a sugar-based surfactant with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Three different assemblies using indomethacin, ibuprofen and ketoprofen as NSAIDs were easily obtained in water by an acid-base reaction. These assemblies formed new amphiphilic entities because of electrostatic and hydrophobic effects in water and led to the spontaneous formation of vesicles. These catanionic vesicles were then tested as potential NSAID delivery systems for dermatological application. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in vivo, and this study clearly showed an improved therapeutic effect for NSAIDs that were formulated as catanionic vesicles. These vesicles ensured a slower diffusion of the NSAID through the skin. This release probably increased the time of retention of the NSAID in the targeted strata of the skin. Thus, the present study suggests that this catanionic bioactive formulation could be a promising dermal delivery system for NSAIDs in the course of skin inflammation treatment.     

正、负离子表面活性剂凝胶化正丁醇

利用正、负离子表面活性剂混合体系月桂酸钠/十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(SL/CTAB)成功实现了正丁醇的凝胶化, 并借助流变仪、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)研究了该凝胶的流变性质和微观形貌. 实验发现, 正、负离子表面活性剂的浓度及混合比例对正丁醇凝胶的形成具有较大影响, 只有在合适的浓度和混合比例下正丁醇才能被有效地凝胶化. 在正丁醇能够形成凝胶的前提下, 固定正、负离子表面活性剂混合体系中某一组分的浓度, 体系的粘度随着另一组分浓度的增加而增大. 流变结果表明该凝胶具有剪切变稀的非牛顿流体特性. 微观形貌的研究表明所形成的凝胶具有典型的三维网络结构, 厚度相对均一的带状纤维是组成网络的结构单元. 进一步的研究表明, 正、负离子表面活性剂碳氢链的疏溶剂作用、极性头基间的静电吸引作用、表面活性剂与正丁醇分子间的氢键作用对凝胶的形成起到重要的作用.     

Spontaneous vesicle formation in catanionic mixtures of amino acid-based surfactants: chain length symmetry effects

The use of amino acids for the synthesis of novel surfactants with vesicle-forming properties potentially enhances the biocompatibility levels needed for a viable alternative to conventional lipid vesicles. In this work, the formation and characterization of catanionic vesicles by newly synthesized lysine- and serine-derived surfactants have been investigated by means of phase behavior mapping and PFG-NMR diffusometry and cryo-TEM methods. The lysine-derived surfactants are double-chained anionic molecules bearing a pseudogemini configuration, whereas the serine-derived amphiphile is cationic and single-chained. Vesicles form in the cationic-rich side for narrow mixing ratios of the two amphiphiles. Two pairs of systems were studied: one symmetric with equal chain lengths, 2C12/C12, and the other highly asymmetric with 2C8/C16 chains, where the serine-based surfactant has the longest chain. Different mechanisms of the vesicle-to-micelle transition were found, depending on symmetry: the 2C12/C12 system entails limited micellar growth and intermediate phase separation, whereas the 2C8/C16 system shows a continuous transition involving large wormlike micelles. The results are interpreted on the basis of currently available models for the micelle-vesicle transitions and the stabilization of catanionic vesicles (energy of curvature vs mixing entropy).     

A Femtosecond Study of Solvation Dynamics and Anisotropy Decay in a Catanionic Vesicle: Excitation‐Wavelength Dependence

The structure and dynamics of a catanionic vesicle are studied by means of femtosecond up‐conversion and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The catanionic vesicle is composed of dodecyl‐trimethyl‐ammonium bromide (DTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The DLS data suggest that 90 % of the vesicles have a diameter of about 400 nm, whereas the diameter of the other 10 % is about 50 nm. The dynamics in the catanionic vesicle are compared with those in pure SDS and DTAB micelles. We also study the dynamics in different regions of the micelle/vesicle by varying the excitation wavelength (λ_ex) from 375 to 435 nm. The catanionic vesicle is found to be more heterogeneous than the SDS or DTAB micelles, and hence, the λ_ex‐dependent variation of the solvation dynamics is more prominent in the first case. The solvation dynamics in the vesicle and the micelles display an ultraslow component (2 and 300 ps, respectively), which arises from the quasibound, confined water inside the micelle, and an ultrafast component (<0.3 ps), which is due to quasifree water at the surface/exposed region. With an increase in λ_ex, the solvation dynamics become faster. This is manifested in a decrease in the total dynamic solvent shift and an increase in the contribution of the ultrafast component (<0.3 ps). At a long λ_ex (435 nm), the surface (exposed region) of a micelle/vesicle is probed, where the solvation dynamics of the water molecules are faster than those in a buried location of the vesicle and the micelles. The time constant of anisotropy decay becomes longer with increasing λ_ex, in both the catanionic vesicle and the ordinary micelles (SDS and DTAB). The slow rotational dynamics (anisotropy decay) in the polar region (at long λ_ex) may be due to the presence of ionic head groups and counter ions.     

Adsorption, association and precipitation in hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide/sodium dodecyl sulfate mixtures

The phase equilibria of surfactant aqueous mixtures, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium dodecyl sulfate, have been studied by polarizing microscopy, quasielastic light scattering, conductivity, potentiometric, electrophoretic, and surface tension measurements. Adsorption at the air/solution interface, association and precipitation in bulk solution strongly depended on the molar ratio and the concentration of surfactants. Catanionic vesicles coexisted with crystalline catanionic salts in a broad concentration range. The relative proportions of crystallites and vesicles varied according to the concentration and the molar ratio of the surfactants. The solid crystalline phase was progressively converted to catanionic vesicles with increasing surfactant molar ratio. At the highest excess of one of the surfactants transition from catanionic vesicles to mixed micelles occurred. The formation and stability of different phases are discussed in terms of surfactant molecular packing constraints and electrostatic interactions in the headgroup region. Surfactant tail-length asymmetry and the change of electrostatic interactions in the headgroup region from attractive to repulsive are governing factors for the transition from planar to curved bilayers. Received: 9 June 1998 Accepted: 18 August 1998     

Formation of monodisperse charged vesicles in mixtures of cationic gemini surfactants and anionic SDS

The aggregation behavior of catanionics formed by the mixture of cationic geminis derived from dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) and anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) was studied by means of phase studies and comprehensive small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments at 25 °C and 50 mM overall concentration. The results are compared to those for the previously studied SDS + DTAC system. Various gemini spacers of different natures and geometries were used, but all of them had similar lengths: an ethoxy bridge, a double bond, and an aromatic ring binding the two DTACs in three different substitutions (ortho, meta, and para). SANS and SAXS data analysis indicates that the spacer has no large effect on the spheroidal micelles of pure surfactants formed at low concentration in water; however, specific effects appear with the addition of electrolytes. Microstructures formed in the catanionic mixtures are rather strongly dependent on the nature of the spacer. The most important finding is that for the hydrophilic, flexible ethoxy bridge, monodisperse vesicles with a fixed anionic/cationic charge ratio (depending only on the surfactant in excess) are formed. Furthermore, the composition of these vesicles shows that strongly charged aggregates are formed. This study therefore provides new opportunities for developing tailor-made gemini surfactants that allow for the fine tuning of catanionic structures.     

Formation of robust, free-standing nanostructured membranes from catanionic surfactant mixtures and hydrophilic polymers

A new type of surfactant templated polymer film, which spontaneously forms at the air/water interface into micron-thick structures, was prepared from a water-soluble polymer and a catanionic surfactant mixture; the film is stable, highly ordered and robust, requiring no cross-linking agents to fix the structure.     

Phase behavior and properties of reverse vesicles in salt-free catanionic surfactant mixtures

Salt-free 1:1 cationic/anionic (catanionic) surfactant mixture tetradecyltrimethylammonium laurate (TTAL) could be prepared by mixing equimolar tetradecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (TTAOH) and lauric acid (LA) in water. Given the condition of suitable range of weight fraction of TTAL in total surfactant, rho=WTTAL/(WTTAL+WLA), and at existence of a small amount of water, it was found that the mixtures of so-obtained TTAL and LA could spontaneously form stable reverse vesicles in various organic solvents including toluene, tert-butylbenzene, and cyclohexane. The reverse vesicle phase shows a blue color against room light and exhibits strong birefringence under polarized microscope. The reverse vesicles are very sensitive to temperature change. Increasing temperature could make the rho values within which reverse vesicles were constructed move to higher values. In organic solvents of alkanes such as n-heptane, reverse vesicles could still form but become unstable upon time and centrifugation. Increasing temperature could accelerate phase separation, and finally a gel-like bottom phase was usually observed. Interestingly, the stable reverse vesicles formed by so-called salt-free catanionic surfactant mixtures still show some resistance against adding inorganic salts. They can trap inorganic ions such as Zn2+ and S2- into their hydrophilic layers. This opens the door for template applications of reverse vesicles to prepare inorganic nanoparticles.     

Influence of Structural Parameters on the Self‐Association Properties of Anti‐HIV Catanionic Dendrimers

The self‐association properties of anti‐HIV catanionic dendrimers as multivalent galactosylceramide (GalCer)‐derived inhibitors are presented. The study was designed to elucidate the origin of the relatively high cytotoxicity values of these anti‐HIV catanionic dendrimers, which have previously been found to exhibit in vitro anti‐HIV activity in the submicromolar range. The physicochemical properties of these catanionic dendrimers were studied to tentatively correlate the structural parameters with self‐association and biological properties. We can conclude from this study that the absence of correlation between the hydrophobicity and the cytotoxicity of the catanionic systems could be explained by the partial segregation of the different partners of the catanionic entities.     

Cytotoxicity characterization of catanionic vesicles in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage-like cells

In comparison with cationic liposomes, catanionic vesicles possess more attractive properties such as stability and lower cost, and these characteristics may make them suitable as a non-viral vehicle and for other biomedical applications such as vaccine adjuvants. However, very little is known about their possible cytotoxic mechanisms in cellular system. Also, this information is vital for the future development of safe biomedical systems. In the current study, the cytotoxic effect of catanionic vesicles, consisting of anionic surfactant (SDS), cationic surfactant (HTMAB), and cholesterol, in cultured RAW 264.7 murine macrophage-like cells was determined. The treatment of catanionic vesicles produced a dose-dependent effect on macrophage cells. RAW 264.7 cells exposed to catanionic vesicles exhibited morphological features of apoptosis such as chromatin condensation. Typical apoptotic ladders were observed in DNA extracted from RAW 264.7 cells treated by catanionic vesicles. Analysis from flow cytometry demonstrated an increase of hypodiploid DNA population (sub-G1) and a simultaneous decrease of diploid DNA content, indicating that DNA cleavage occurred after exposure of the cells with catanionic vesicles. In addition, it was shown that pretreatment of RAW 264.7 cells with the general caspase inhibitor (zVAD-fmk) did not prevent apoptosis induced by catanionic vesicles, suggesting that apoptosis in macrophage cells followed a caspase-independent pathway induced by catanionic vesicles. These data provide novel insight into the effect of catanionic vesicles on the mechanisms of cell death induced by catanionic vesicles.     

Role of the surfactant headgroup on the counterion specificity in the micelle-to-vesicle transition through salt addition

A transition from micelles to vesicles is reported when salts are added to a catanionic micellar solution composed of sodium dodecylcarboxylate (SL) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), with an excess of SL. The counterion binding and increase in aggregate size was monitored by mass spectrometry, rheology and dynamic light scattering measurements, whereas the vesicles were characterized by freeze-fracture and cryo-transmission microscopy experiments. The effect of counterions on the formation of vesicles was studied and compared to a previously studied catanionic system with a sulfate head group, SDS/DTAB. As in the latter case, no anion specificity was found, while large differences in the hydrodynamic radii of the formed objects were observed, when the cation of the added salt was varied. A classification of the cations could be made according to their ability to increase the measured hydrodynamic radii. It is observed that, if the sulfate headgroup of the anionic surfactant is replaced by a carboxylic group, the order of the ions is reversed, i.e. it follows the reversed Hofmeister series. Different morphologies are observed as the ionic strength of the system is increased. The aggregates are analogous to those found in the SDS/DTAB system.     

Temperature-controlled vesicle aggregation in the mixed system of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate/n-dodecyltributylammonium bromide

Temperature-controlled vesicle aggregation was investigated in a catanionic surfactant system of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate/n-dodecyltributylammonium bromide. Vesicle aggregation took place as the temperature reached the critical value (Tc). Tc can be adjusted by the variations of the total surfactant concentration and the mixed molar ratio. It was also found that the temperature variation above Tc can greatly influence the vesicle aggregation rate. The vesicle aggregation process was irreversible as long as T >/= Tc, whereas the vesicle disaggregation process occurred only below Tc.     

Size,Charge, and Stability of Fully Serine‐Based Catanionic Vesicles: Towards Versatile Biocompatible Nanocarriers

Vesicles based on mixed cationic and anionic surfactants (catanionic vesicles) offer a number of advantageous colloidal features over conventional lipid‐based vesicles, namely spontaneity in formation, long‐term stability, and easy modulation of size and charge. If biocompatibility is added through rational design of the chemical components, the potential for biorelated applications further emerges. Here, we report for the first time on two catanionic vesicle systems in which both ionic amphiphiles are derivatized from the same amino acid—serine—with the goal of enhancing aggregate biocompatibility. Phase behavior maps for a mixture with chain length symmetry, 12Ser/12‐12Ser, and another with asymmetry, 16Ser/8‐8Ser, are presented, for which regions of vesicles, micelles, and coexisting aggregates are identified. For the asymmetric mixture, detailed phase behavior and microstructure characterization have been carried out based on surface tension, light microscopy, cryo‐SEM, cryo‐TEM, and dynamic light scattering analysis. Vesicles are found with tunable mean size, pH, and zeta potential. Changes in aggregate shape with varying composition and the effect of preparation methods and aging on vesicle features and stability have been investigated in detail. The results are discussed in the light of self‐assembly models and related catanionic systems reported before. A versatile system of robust vesicles is thus presented for potential applications.