Diffusion of organic dyes in a niosome immobilized on a glass surface using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Giant multilameller niosomes containing cholesterol and triton X-100 are studied using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) data indicates formation of niosomes of broadly two different sizes (diameter)--~150 nm and ~1300 nm. This is confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and confocal microscopy. The diffusion coefficient (D(t)) of three organic dyes in the niosome immobilized on a glass surface is studied using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. On addition of the room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) (1-methyl-3-pentylimidazolium bromide, pmim]Br] and 1-methyl- 3-pentylimidazolium tetra-fluoroborate, pmim]BF(4)]) the size of the niosome particles increases. The D(t) of all the organic dyes (DCM, C343 and C480) increases on addition of RTILs, indicating faster diffusion. The viscosity calculated from the D(t) of the three dyes exhibits weak probe dependence. Unlike lipid or catanionic vesicle, the D(t) values in a niosome exhibit very narrow distribution. This indicates that the niosomes are fairly homogeneous with small variation of viscosity.