Vesicle Formation from an Amphiphilic Porphyrin Derivative at the Air-Water Interface

Self-assembly of modified rhodamine-6G with tri-block copolymer: unusual vesicle formation, pH sensing and dye release properties

A new rhodamine-6G derivative having a C₁₈-alkyl chain self-assembles with an amphiphilic tri-block copolymer and forms stable vesicles in water or in water-ethanol (4 : 1, v/v) medium. The stability of the spirolactam form of the rhodamine-6G derivative in these vesicular structures, along with studies of controlled dye release and pH sensing are discussed. Transmission electron micrographs and DLS analyses confirm the formation of vesicular structures. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show that the self assembled tri-block copolymer-octadecyl rhodamine vesicles form near spherical nanostructures with a size ranging from 80 to 110 nm. Furthermore, the vesicular system is disassembled under acidic conditions, releasing the cargo which are an integral part of the vesicle. Dye-release studies showed that the release rates of the loaded dye in the vesicles could be well-controlled as a function of the media pH. These results offer an opportunity to use these nanovesicles as imaging reagents for probing media pH with their simultaneous use as nanocarriers for intracellular drug delivery.

Interfacial assembly of a series of cinnamoyl-containing bolaamphiphiles: spacer-controlled packing, photochemistry, and odd-even effect

A series of bolaamphiphiles with 4-hydroxycinnamoyl head groups and different length of the alkyl spacers (n = 6-12) were designed to investigate their photochemistry in the organized films obtained from the air/water interface. It has been found that both the length and odd-even number of the spacers can finely tune the molecular packing as well as the photochemistry. When the spacer length was changed from 6 to 12 methylene units, the assemblies changed from J aggregate to H aggregate. The molecules with even-numbered polymethylene spacer tend to form three-dimensional nanorod structure at the air/water interface. For the assembly of derivatives with odd-numbered spacers, diverse morphologies such as nanospirals and nanofibers were observed depending on the chain length and the surface pressures. The different packing of bolaamphiphiles could subsequently affect the photochemistry of the cinnamoyl groups in the organized films. The spacer effect in the assembly can be understood from the cooperation between H-bond of the phenolic hydroxyl and the amide groups, π-π stacking as well as the hydrophobic interactions of the alkyl spacer. A packing model was proposed to explain the phenomenon.

Aggregation behavior of SDS/CTAB catanionic surfactant mixture in aqueous solution and at the air/water interface

Herein, we report the aggregation behavior of catanionic mixtures of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in solution and at the air/water interface obtained by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. We employed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, in situ phase-contrast inverted microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy to characterize the systems in solution, at the air/water interface, and in LB films. We found spherical vesicles at the SDS/CTAB ratio of 35/65 in aqueous solution and an ordered aggregated morphology called surface micelles at SDS/CTAB ratios of 35/65 to 65/35 at the air/water interface. Other mixtures (SDS/CTAB = 90/10, 10/90) were found to contain mostly disordered aggregated microstructures. An in situ time-dependent study of surface micelle formation at the air/water interface showed micelle ripening through the fusion of smaller micelles. These micelles were successfully immobilized on a glass substrate by the LB technique. Overall, the study might find application in the fundamental science of the physical chemistry of surfactant systems, as well as in the preparation of drug delivery system.