Review on chemically bonded geminis with cationic heads: second-generation interfactants

A comprehensive review on production of bio-surfactants by bio-degradation of waste carbohydrate feedstocks: an approach towards sustainable development

The advancement of science and technology demands chemistry which is safer, smarter and green by nature. The sustainability of science thus requires well-behaved alternates that best suit the demand. Bio-surfactants are surface active compounds, established to affect surface chemistry. In general, microbial bio-surfactants are a group of structurally diverse molecules produced by different microbes. A large number of bio-surfactants are produced during hydrocarbon degradation by hydrocarbonoclistic microorganisms during their own growth on carbohydrates and the production rate is influenced by the rate of degradation of carbohydrates. The production of such biological surfactants is thus of greater importance. This write up is a dedicated review to update the existing knowledge of inexpensive carbohydrate sources as substrates, microorganisms and technologies of biosurfactant production. This is an economy friendly as well as sustainable approach which will facilitate achieving some sustainable development goals. The production is dependent on the fermentation strategies, different factors of the microbial culture broth and downstream processing; these all have been elaborately presented in this article.

Evaluation of the antiviral potential of gemini surfactants against influenza virus H1N1

Influenza A virus (IAV) affects human health worldwide as a high-risk disease. It can neither be easily controlled by current vaccines and nor be treated by conventional drugs. Gemini surfactants (GS) have shown several properties including antiviral activity. In this study, the antiviral capacity of some GS compounds with different levels of hydrophobicity was examined. The 50% cytotoxic (CC₅₀) and non-cytotoxic (NCTC) concentrations of the compounds were determined by MTT method. The NCTCs, the same as effective concentrations (EC₅₀s), were tested for the antiviral capacity against IAV in different combination treatments for 1 h incubation on MDCK cells. The HA and MTT assays were used to evaluate the virus titer and cell viabilities, respectively. The hemolytic activity of the compounds was also assessed using an HA inhibition assay. To evaluate the apoptotic effect of GS compounds, Annexin V-PI kit was used. The HA titers decreased between 1-6.5 logs, 1-4.5 logs, and 1-5.5 logs in simultaneous, pre- and post-penetration combination treatments, respectively. The cell viability values in all combination treatments were favorable. The HI assay indicated the hemolytic potential of GSs and their physical interaction with viral HA. The apoptosis test results highlighted anti-apoptotic capacity of the GS compounds alone and in the presence of influenza virus especially for the hydrophobic ones. Gemini surfactants were generally more efficacious in simultaneous treatment. Their antiviral potential may be attributed to their physical interaction with viral membrane or HA glycoprotein that disrupts viral particle or blocks viral entry to the cell and inhibits its propagation.

Fabrication of Encapsulated Gemini Surfactants

(1) Background: Encapsulation of surfactants is an innovative approach that allows not only protection of the active substance, but also its controlled and gradual release. This is primarily used to protect metallic surfaces against corrosion or to create biologically active surfaces. Gemini surfactants are known for their excellent anticorrosion, antimicrobial and surface properties; (2) Methods: In this study, we present an efficient methods of preparation of encapsulated gemini surfactants in form of alginate and gelatin capsules; (3) Results: The analysis of infrared spectra and images of the scanning electron microscope confirm the effectiveness of encapsulation; (4) Conclusions: Gemini surfactants in encapsulated form are promising candidates for corrosion inhibitors and antimicrobials with the possibility of protecting the active substance against environmental factors and the possibility of controlled outflow.

Organic Compounds as Corrosion Inhibitors for Carbon Steel in HCl Solution: A Comprehensive Review

Most studies on the corrosion inhibition performance of organic molecules and (nano)materials were conducted within "carbon steel/1.0 M HCl" solution system using similar experimental and theoretical methods. As such, the numerous research findings in this system are sufficient to conduct comparative studies to select the best-suited inhibitor type that generally refers to a type of inhibitor with low concentration/high inhibition efficiency, nontoxic properties, and a simple and cost-economic synthesis process. Before data collection, to help readers have a clear understanding of some crucial elements for the evaluation of corrosion inhibition performance, we introduced the mainstay of corrosion inhibitors studies involved, including the corrosion and inhibition mechanism of carbon steel/HCl solution systems, evaluation methods of corrosion inhibition efficiency, adsorption isotherm models, adsorption thermodynamic parameters QC calculations, MD/MC simulations, and the main characterization techniques used. In the classification and statistical analysis section, organic compounds or (nano)materials as corrosion inhibitors were classified into six types according to their molecular structural characteristics, molecular size, and compound source, including drug molecules, ionic liquids, surfactants, plant extracts, polymers, and polymeric nanoparticles. We outlined the important conclusions obtained from recent literature and listed the evaluation methods, characterization techniques, and contrastable experimental data of these types of inhibitors when used for carbon steel corrosion in 1.0 M HCl solution. Finally, statistical analysis was only performed based on these data from carbon steel/1.0 M HCl solution system, from which some conclusions can contribute to reducing the workload of the acquisition of useful information and provide some reference directions for the development of new corrosion inhibitors.

Gemini and Bicephalous Surfactants: A Review on Their Synthesis, Micelle Formation, and Uses

The use of surfactants in polymerization reactions is particularly important, mainly in emulsion polymerizations. Further, micelles from biocompatible surfactants find use in pharmaceutical dosage forms. This paper reviews recent developments in the synthesis of novel gemini and bicephalous surfactants, micelle formation, and their applications in polymer and nanoparticle synthesis, oil recovery, catalysis, corrosion, protein binding, and biomedical area, particularly in drug delivery.

Antimicrobial Properties and Cytotoxic Effect of Imidazolium Geminis with Tunable Hydrophobicity

Antimicrobial, membranotropic and cytotoxic properties of dicationic imidazolium surfactants of n-s-n (Im) series with variable length of alkyl group (n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) and spacer fragment (s = 2, 3, 4) were explored and compared with monocationic analogues. Their activity against a representative range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and also fungi, is characterized. The relationship between the biological activity and the structural features of these compounds is revealed, with the hydrophobicity emphasized as a key factor. Among dicationic surfactants, decyl derivatives showed highest antimicrobial effect, while for monocationic analogues, the maximum activity is observed in the case of tetradecyl tail. The leading compounds are 2–4 times higher in activity compared to reference antibiotics and prove effective against resistant strains. It has been shown that the antimicrobial effect is not associated with the destruction of the cell membrane, but is due to specific interactions of surfactants and cell components. Importantly, they show strong selectivity for microorganism cells while being of low harm to healthy human cells, with a SI ranging from 30 to 100.

Antimicrobial Activity of Gemini Surfactants with Ether Group in the Spacer Part

Due to their large possibility of the structure modification, alkylammonium gemini surfactants are a rapidly growing class of compounds. They exhibit significant surface, aggregation and antimicrobial properties. Due to the fact that, in order to achieve the desired utility effect, the minimal concentration of compounds are used, they are in line with the principle of greenolution (green evolution) in chemistry. In this study, we present innovative synthesis of the homologous series of gemini surfactants modified at the spacer by the ether group, i.e., 3-oxa-1,5-pentane-bis(N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylammonium bromides). The critical micelle concentrations were determined. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the synthesized compounds were determined against bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC 10536 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538; yeast Candida albicans ATCC 10231; and molds Aspergillus niger ATCC 16401 and Penicillium chrysogenum ATCC 60739. We also investigated the relationship between antimicrobial activity and alkyl chain length or the nature of the spacer. The obtained results indicate that the synthesized compounds are effective microbicides with a broad spectrum of biocidal activity.

Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Gemini Surfactants as Efficient Capping and Stabilizing Agents

The scientific community has paid special attention to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in recent years due to their huge technological capacities, particularly in biomedical applications, such as antimicrobials, drug-delivery carriers, device coatings, imaging probes, diagnostic, and optoelectronic platforms. The most popular method of obtaining silver nanoparticles as a colloidal dispersion in aqueous solution is chemical reduction. The choice of the capping agent is particularly important in order to obtain the desired size distribution, shape, and dispersion rate of AgNPs. Gemini alkylammonium salts are named as multifunctional surfactants, and possess a wide variety of applications, which include their use as capping agents for metal nanoparticles synthesis. Because of the high antimicrobial activity of gemini surfactants, AgNPs stabilized by this kind of surfactant may possess unique and strengthened biocidal properties. The present paper presents the synthesis of AgNPs stabilized by gemini surfactants with hexadecyl substituent and variable structure of spacer, obtained via ecofriendly synthesis. UV-Vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering were used as analyzing tools in order to confirm physicochemical characterization of the AgNPs (characteristic UV-Vis bands, hydrodynamic diameter of NPs, polydispersity index (PDI)).

A Comparative Spectral Study on the Interaction of Organic Dye Congo-Red with Selective Aqueous Micellar Media of CPC, Rhamnolipids and Saponin

The present study is an investigation of the solubilising ability of natural and conventional surfactants saponin (sapindus saponin or reetha saponin), Rhamnolipids (RLs) and N-cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) respectively via dye-surfactant interaction. The ionic dye Congo Red was examined by absorption spectroscopy method for the study. The dye interacted strongly with oppositely charged surfactant N-cetylpyridinium chloride in the pre-micellar concentration range and formed a stable dye-surfactant complex. The thermodynamic parameter, free energy change for all the systems was calculated at a constant temperature of 25°C. The ΔG0 value for N-cetylpyridinium chloride is found to be −33.269 kJ/mol while for saponin and rhamnolipids the values were −16.084 kJ/mol and −26.006 kJ/mol respectively. The values clearly indicate the efficiency of N-cetylpyridinium chloride surfactant compared to the other two surfactants. The present study aims to understand the dye solubilization in surfactant media in order to develop environmentally friendly, green and cost effective techniques.

The structure - Activity correlation in the family of dicationic imidazolium surfactants: Antimicrobial properties and cytotoxic effect

BACKGROUND

The development of new effective microbicide surfactants and the search for the structure-biological activity relationship is an important and promising problem. Surfactants containing imidazolium fragment attract attention of researchers in the field of chemotherapy, because these compounds often exhibit high antimicrobial activity. The aim of this work is to identify the newly synthesized surfactants from the viewpoint of their potential usefulness in pharmacology and medicine. For this purpose, a detailed study of antimicrobial, hemolytic and cytotoxic activity of dicationic alkylimidazolium surfactants of the m-s-m (Im) series with a variable length of a hydrocarbon tail (m = 10, 12) and a spacer fragment (s = 2, 3, 4) was carried out.

METHODS

Aggregation of surfactants in solutions was estimated by tensiometry and conductivity. Antimicrobial activity was determined by the serial dilution technique. Cytotoxic effects of the test compounds on human cancer and normal cells were estimated by means of the multifunctional Cytell Cell Imaging system. Cell Apoptosis Analysis was made by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The test compounds show high antimicrobial activity against a wide range of test microorganisms and do not possess high hemolytic activity. Importantly, some of them display a bactericidal activity comparable to ciprofloxacin fluoroquinolone antibiotic against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus (MRSA). The cytotoxicity of the compounds against normal and tumor human cell lines has been tested as well, with cytotoxic effect and selectivity strongly controlled by structural factor and kind of cell line. Superior results were revealed for compound 10-4-10 (Im) in the case of HuTu 80 cell line (duodenal adenocarcinoma), for which IC₅₀ value at the level of doxorubicin and a markedly higher selectivity index (SI 7.5) were demonstrated. Flow cytometry assay shows apoptosis-inducing effect of this compound on HuTu 80 cells, through significant changes in the potential of mitochondrial membrane.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Antibacterial properties are shown to be controlled by alkyl chain length, with the highest activity demonstrated by surfactants with decyl tail, with the length of the spacer fragment showing practically no effect. The results indicate that the mechanism of cytotoxic effect of the compounds can be associated with the induction of apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Selectivity against pathogenic microorganisms and low toxicity against eukaryotic cells allow considering dicationic imidazolium surfactants as new effective antimicrobial agents. At the same time, high selectivity against some cancer cell lines indicates the prospect of their using as components of new anticancer drugs.

Surfactant exopolysaccharide of Ochrobactrum pseudintermedium C1 has antibacterial potential: Its bio-medical applications in vitro

Since the advent of biologics in human welfare various bio-molecules have been explored. Different bacterial exopolysaccharides have proved their worth in many industrial and commercial applications. In this perspective, while exploring a surfactant exopolysaccharide of Ochrobactrum pseudintermedium C1, it is strikingly observed that it possesses a potent antibacterial property which encourages its bio-medical applications. Following isolation and purification of the said exopolysaccharide, its structural configuration and functional attributes are studied by several analytical procedures involving FTIR, ¹³C- NMR, CHN-analysis, estimation of zeta potential, XRD-study and digital tensiometry. When treated with pathological samples in vitro, it distinctly elicits its antibacterial property by exhibiting a characteristic zone of inhibition. Combined with a standard antibiotic (like ciprofloxacin), it enhances the action of antibiotic also. Mechanism of its antibacterial action is evaluated by crystal violet entrapment assay with UV-vis spectrophotometry, bacterial cell viability assay by trypan blue staining and SEM study. Results show that its basic surfactant property, anionic character, crystalline nature and scaffolding architecture are supposed to facilitate its antibacterial property which is manifested by its capability of disrupting bacterial cell envelope causing eventual cell death. In the current global scenario, an increasing threat of antibiotic resistance is prevailing due to their indiscriminate use. If used as an adjuvant with a judicious dose of antibiotic, this bio-molecule might play a significant role in bio-medicine to combat such threat.

Green Methodology Development for the Surfactant Assisted Williamson Synthesis of 4-Benzyloxy Benzoic Acid (Ether) in Aqueous Media

Modern science and technology promote synthesis routes which are eco-friendly, chemicals which are promoted as “green” and solvents which are less toxic. A convenient method for the synthesis of ether by the reaction of 4-hydroxy benzoic acid and benzyl chloride using a surfactant as catalyst has been developed. The targeted ether is completely immiscible in water but in association with the interface active surfactants, the production of such a hydrophobic organic compound in water has been made possible. Micelles produce a pseudo-cellular organic environment to isolate species from the bulk solvent and favour the compartmentalization of reagents as well. Thus, the enhancement of the local concentration takes place and consequently the reactivity increases. The interaction of such unique chemo-, regio- and stereo-selectivity of surfactants made this reaction feasible. Organic species added to a micellar media are distributed between bulk water and micelles depending on their polarity, charge and dimension. This novel chemistry describes a set of green methods for carrying out this new generation Williamson reaction which can also be used for selective O-alkylation.

Catalytic influence of 16-s-16 gemini surfactants on the rate constant of histidine and ninhydrin

The present paper reports the catalytic influence of 16-s-16 (spacer (s) = 4, 5, 6) gemini surfactants on the rate constant of histidine and ninhydrin at 343 K and pH 5.0 using the spectrophotometric technique. The effect of varying amounts of geminis was made on the rate constant of histidine and ninhydrin keeping other constituents constant. Characteristics of the rate constant (kψ ) versus [gemini] depict the effect of surfactants on the rate constant. A systematic explanation about the effect of surfactants is revealed and discussed in the text. The influence of different parameters that includes [reactants], temperature and pH has also been performed on the study. In order to determine the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of pure surfactants and their solution mixtures, conductivity measurement was employed. By using the Eyring equation, activation parameters at different temperatures have been obtained. The resultant data of kψ versus [gemini] plot were rationalized with the pseudo-phase model of micelles.

A Review on Micellar Catalyzed Oxidation Reactions of Organic Functional Groups in Aqueous Medium Using Various Transition Metals

The current requirement for science and research concerns the absolute sustainable development of a chemistry that is inherently safer, smarter and more environmentally friendly. The oxidation reaction is a very fundamental transformation reaction in organic synthesis and likely plays a significant role in the production of various value-added chemicals from biomass and others precursors. In the focus of making kinetic experiments greener several modified methodologies and safe chemicals have been employed. Surfactants are such suitable alternate that go with the requirments. Surfactant aggregates i. e. micelles are nano-sized supra molecules, able to act as catalysts. They can be used to catalyze the organic functional group transformation reactions mediated with transition metals and promoted with various aromatic bases. This allowed water to be used as a solvent, where the reactions became more sustainable. The recyclability of used surfactants, enhancement of reaction kinetics and speed of reaction with no consumption of energy has added more value to this type of catalytic oxidation. This article aims to contribute to the discussion of the mechanistic aspects of various types of surfactant-catalyzed oxidation of organic functional groups.

Wetting Process and Adsorption Mechanism of Surfactant Solutions on Coal Dust Surface

To determine the wetting process and wetting mechanism of different surfactant solutions on coal dust surface, four types of surfactants (anionic surfactant 1227, anionic surfactant AOS, amphoteric surfactant CAB-35, and nonionic surfactant CDEA) are selected to measure their surface tension and contact angle. Based on the data, the adhesion work, spreading coefficient, and immersion work of the surfactant solutions on a coal dust surface are calculated and their adsorption mechanism is discussed. The results show that the surface tension and contact angle of AOS and CDEA are lower and smaller, respectively, their calculated spreading coefficients are higher, and their adhesion work and immersion work are less than those of 1227 and CAB-35. This shows that the wettability of the AOS and CDEA solutions for a coal dust surface is more than that of 1227 and CAB-35, whereas their adhesion is lower than that of the latter. The spreading coefficient can be used as an index to determine the wettability. The wetting ability of the AOS and CDEA aqueous solutions for coal dust is stronger than that of 1227 and CAB-35 because of the different adsorption forms of the surfactant molecules on the surface of the coal dust. The tail hydrophobic group of the AOS and CDEA surfactant molecules orient to the surface of the coal dust, whereas the head hydrophilic group directs to the solution, being easier to wet. The results show that anionic and nonionic surfactant solutions can significantly improve the wettability of a coal dust surface, providing a theoretical basis for selecting suitable surfactants as water-spray additives to improve the dust suppression efficiency.

Synthesis of 2-(Prop-2-ynyloxy) Benzaldehyde using Salicyl Aldehyde and Propargyl Bromide in Aqueous Micellar Media

Advances in science and technology are promoting eco-friendly synthesis routes, green chemicals, and non-hazardous solvents. A suitable method for the synthesis of 2-(prop-2-ynyloxy) benzaldehyde was developed using three different aqueous micellar media. The targeted product ether is completely immiscible in water, but in combination with interface active surfactants it has been possible to produce the hydrophobic organic compound in water. Micelles function as a pseudocellular organic environment to isolate species from the main solvent and favor compartmentalization of reagents. There is an increase in the local concentration and consequently the reactivity increases. The use of such unique chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity renders this reaction new. Organic species added to a micellar media are distributed between water and micelles depending on polarity, charge, and size. In the experiments it was observed that salicylaldehyde and propargyl bromide interacted best in CTAB media and the yield of the formed product was 96 %.

Modernization of surfactant chemistry in the age of gemini and bio-surfactants: a review

This review contains elaborate discussions on the efficiencies of gemini and bio-surfactants as modern generation green chemicals in various fields.