Cleavable surfactants

Detergent Chemistry Modulates the Transgression of Planetary Boundaries including Antimicrobial Resistance and Drug Discovery

Detergent chemistry enables applications in the world today while harming safe operating spaces that humanity needs for survival. Aim of this review is to support a holistic thought process in the design of detergent chemistry. We harness the planetary boundary concept as a framework for literature survey to identify progresses and knowledge gaps in context with detergent chemistry and five planetary boundaries that are currently transgressed, i.e., climate, freshwater, land system, novel entities, biosphere integrity. Our survey unveils the status of three critical challenges to be addressed in the years to come, including (i) the implementation of a holistically, climate-friendly detergent industry; (ii) the alignment of materialistic and social aspects in creating technical solutions by means of sustainable chemistry; (iii) the development of detergents that serve the purpose of applications but do not harm the biosphere in their role as novel entities. Specifically, medically relevant case reports revealed that even the most sophisticated detergent design cannot sufficiently accelerate drug discovery to outperform the antibiotic resistance development that detergents simultaneously promote as novel entities. Safe operating spaces that humanity needs for its survival may be secured by directing future efforts beyond sustainable chemistry, resource efficiency, and net zero emission targets.

Impact of the Hydrocarbon Chain Length of Biodegradable Ester-Bonded Cationic Gemini Surfactants on Self-Assembly, In Vitro Gene Transfection, Cytotoxicity, and Antimicrobial Activity

Gemini surfactants, due to their unique structural features and enhanced properties compared to conventional surfactants, are becoming more popular in the domain of colloid and interface science, drug delivery, and gene delivery science. This distinct class of surfactants forms a wide range of self-assembled aggregates depending on their chemical structure and environmental conditions. The present work aims to develop Gemini with three distinct chain lengths linked through the ester group and quaternary nitrogen head groups that can bind DNA molecules and ultimately serve as vectors for DNA transfection. Thus, we synthesized three distinct cationic Gemini with 12, 14, and 16 carbons in their tails and studied the effect of the hydrocarbon chain length on their physicochemical properties and biological applications. The self-assembly of these Geminis in aqueous solution was investigated by a number of techniques, including surface tension, electrical conductivity, fluorescence probe, calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy. All three Gemini were extremely surface active and self-assembled above a very low critical micelle concentration. Calorimetric studies suggested the formation of thermodynamically favorable aggregates in an aqueous medium. Chain length dependence was observed in the size as well as the morphology of the aggregates. These Gemini ions were found to bind DNA strongly, as indicated by the high binding constant values. In vitro gene transfection studies using the RAW 264.7 cell line suggested that all three cationic Gemini had transfection efficiencies comparable to that of commercial standard turbofectamine. MTT assay was also performed for concentration selection while using these Gemini as transfection vectors. Overall, it was observed that Gemini had very little cytotoxicity within the investigated concentration range, highlighting the significance of the ester link within the structure. When compared with known antimicrobials such as kanamycin and ampicillin, all three Gemini furnished excellent antimicrobial activity in both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) microorganisms.

Integrated Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Bio-Based Amphiphiles using a Functionalization-Defunctionalization Approach

Concerns over the sustainability and end-of-life properties of fossil-derived surfactants have driven interest in bio-based alternatives. Lignocellulosic biomass with its polar functional groups is an obvious feedstock for surfactant production but its use is limited by process complexity and low yield. Here, we present a simple two-step approach to prepare bio-based amphiphiles directly from hemicellulose and lignin at high yields (29 % w/w based on the total raw biomass and >80 % w/w of these two fractions). Acetal functionalization of xylan and lignin with fatty aldehydes during fractionation introduced hydrophobic segments and subsequent defunctionalization by hydrogenolysis of the xylose derivatives or acidic hydrolysis of the lignin derivatives produced amphiphiles. The resulting biodegradable xylose acetals and/or ethers, and lignin-based amphiphilic polymers both largely retained their original natural structures, but exhibited competitive or superior surface activity in water/oil systems compared to common bio-based surfactants.

A pH-Sensitive Lignin-Based Material for Sustained Release of 8-Hydroxyquinoline

The fabrication of pH-sensitive lignin-based materials has received considerable attention in various fields, such as biomass refining, pharmaceuticals, and detecting techniques. However, the pH-sensitive mechanism of these materials is usually depending on the hydroxyl or carboxyl content in the lignin structure, which hinders the further development of these smart materials. Here, a pH-sensitive lignin-based polymer with a novel pH-sensitive mechanism was constructed by establishing ester bonds between lignin and the active molecular 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ). The structure of the produced pH-sensitive lignin-based polymer was comprehensively characterized. The substituted degree of 8HQ was tested up to 46.6% sensitivity, and the sustained release performance of 8HQ was confirmed by the dialysis method, the sensitivity of which was found to be 60 times slower compared with the physical mixed sample. Moreover, the obtained pH-sensitive lignin-based polymer showed an excellent pH sensitivity, and the released amount of 8HQ under an alkaline condition (pH = 8) was obviously higher than that under an acidic condition (pH = 3 and 5). This work provides a new paradigm for the high-value utilization of lignin and a theory guidance for the fabrication of novel pH-sensitive lignin-based polymers.

Synthesis, Self-Assembly Properties, and Degradation Characterization of a Nonionic Photocleavable Azo-Sulfide Surfactant Family

We report the synthesis and characterization of a new family of maltose-derived nonionic surfactants that contain a photocleavable azo-sulfide linker (mAzo). The self-assembly properties of these surfactants were investigated using surface tension measurements to determine the critical micelle concentration (CMC), dynamic light scattering (DLS) to reveal the hydrodynamic radius of their self-assemblies, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to elucidate the micelle morphology. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-visible) spectroscopy confirmed the rapid photodegradation of these surfactants, but surface tension measurements of the surfactant solutions before and after degradation showed unusual degradation products. The photodegradation process was further studied using online liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS),which revealed that these surfactants can form another photo-stable surfactant post-degradation. Finally, traditionally challenging proteins from heart tissue were solubilized using the mAzo surfactants to demonstrate their potential in biological applications.

Synthetic Routes for Designing Furanic and Non Furanic Biobased Surfactants from 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is one of the most valuable biomass platform molecules, enabling the construction of a plethora of high value-added furanic compounds. In particular, in the last decade, HMF has been considered as a starting material for designing biobased surfactants, not only because of its renewability and carbon footprint, but also because of its enhanced biodegradability. This Review presents recent examples of the different approaches to link the hydrophilic and lipophilic moieties into the hydrophobic furan (and tetrahydrofuran) ring, giving a variety of biobased surfactants that have been classified here according to the charge of the head polar group. Moreover, strategies for the synthesis of different non-furanic structures surfactant molecules (such as levulinic acid, cyclopentanols, and aromatics) derived from HMF are described. The new HMF-based amphiphilic molecules presented here cover a wide range of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values and have suitable surfactant properties such as surface tension activity and critical micelle concentration, to be an important alternative for the replacement of non-sustainable surfactants.

Heads or tails? The synthesis, self-assembly, properties and uses of betaine and betaine-like surfactants

Betaines are a key class of zwitterionic surfactant that exhibit particularly favorable properties, making them indispensable in modern formulation. Due to their composition, betaines are readily biodegradable, mild on the skin and exhibit some antimicrobial activity. Vital to their function, these surfactants self-assemble into diverse micellar geometries, some of which contribute to increased solution viscosity, and their surface activity results in strong detergency and foaming. As such, their behavior has been exploited in various applications from personal care (including shampoos and liquid soaps) to specific industrial fields (such as enhanced oil recovery). This review aims to inform the reader of the diverse range of different betaine and betaine-like surfactants that have been actively researched over the past three decades. Synthesis as well as both chemical and physical characterization of betaine surfactants are discussed, including small-angle scattering studies that indicate self-assembly structures and rheological data that demonstrates texture and flow. Stimulus responsive systems and exotic betaine analogs with enhanced functionality are also covered. Crucially, the connection between surfactant molecular architecture and function are highlighted, exemplifying precisely why zwitterionic betaine and related surfactants are so uniquely functional.

Phase separation and collapse in almost density matched depletion induced colloidal gels in presence and absence of air bubbles: An MRI imaging study

HYPOTHESIS

Vesicle-polymer dispersions are found in drug-delivery systems and consumer products but undergo phase separation. Previous studies of phase separation have focussed on systems with high density differences between continuous and vesicular phases. In this study, we investigate phase separation in vesicle-polymer mixtures with very small density differences, in the presence and absence of air bubbles.

EXPERIMENTS

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, X-ray Computed Tomography and rheological measurements are reported which characterise the properties and stability of vesicle suspensions composed of the cationic surfactant, diethylesterdimethyl ammonium chloride, mixed with non-adsorbing polymer. ¹H T₂ MR relaxation images are employed to observe phase separation, for a range of vesicle-polymer mixtures, which are analysed using Moran's I spatial autocorrelation to quantify the extent and rate of phase separation.

FINDINGS

It was found that in presence of air bubbles, phase separation follows a compression/collapse mechanism, typical of colloidal gels with large density differences between the phases. Without air bubbles, phase separation develops through the formation of tiny cracks and fractures in the samples. MRI enabled visualisation of the evolution of phase separation inside highly turbid samples. The rate of phase separation was found to generally increase with increasing polymer concentration and decrease with increasing vesicle volume fraction.

Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and Biological Activities of Pyrimidine-Based Cationic Amphiphiles

Pyrimidine-based cationic amphiphiles (PCAms), i.e., di-trifluoroacetic acid salts of N1-[1'-(1″,3″-diglycinatoxy-propane-2″-yl)-1',2',3'-triazole-4'-yl]methyl-N3-alkylpyrimidines have been synthesized utilizing naturally occurring biocompatible precursors, like glycerol, glycine, and uracil/ thymine in good yields. Synthesized PCAms consist of a hydrophilic head group comprising TFA salt of glyceryl 1,3-diglycinate and hydrophobic tail comprising of C-7 and C-12 N3-alkylated uracil or thymine conjugated via a 4-methylene-1,2,3-triazolyl linker. The physicochemical properties of all PCAms, such as critical aggregation concentration, hydrodynamic diameter, shape, and zeta potential (surface charge) were analyzed. These PCAms were also evaluated for their anti-proliferative and anti-tubercular activities. One of the synthesized PCAm exhibited 4- to 75-fold more activity than first-line anti-tubercular drugs streptomycin and isoniazid, respectively, against the multidrug resistant clinical isolate 591 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Click-Chemistry Approach toward Antibacterial and Degradable Hybrid Hydrogels Based on Octa-Betaine Ester Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane

An efficient process for the synthesis of degradable hydrogels containing octa-betaine ester polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) through efficient thiol-ene and Menschutkin click reactions was developed. The hydrogels exhibited a yield strength of 0.36 MPa and a compressive modulus of 4.38 MPa and displayed excellent flexibility as well as torsion resistance. Antibacterial efficacy of hydrogels (and degradation products) was evaluated using Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive). Efficacy was found to increase with the concentration of cetyl chloroacetate (CCA) in the hydrogel network, reaching 93% and 99% for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Degradation of hydrogels was observed in weak alkali conditions (pH = 8) and at physiological conditions (pH = 7.4). The degradation time of the hydrogels could be finely tuned by variation of the CCA content in the hydrogel and environmental stimulus. The tunable degradation behavior under physiological conditions combined with high antibacterial efficacy could render the presented materials interesting for tissue engineering applications.

Temperature-Dependent Dynamics of Giant Vesicles Composed of Hydrolysable Lipids Having an Amide Linkage

Various amphiphiles including surfactants and lipids have been designed and synthesized to improve and create new functionalities. In particular, the emergence of cell-like behaviors of giant vesicles (GVs) composed of synthetic lipids has drawn much attention in the development of chemical models for cells. The aim of this study was to measure temperature-dependent morphological changes of GVs induced by fragmentation and subsequent growth using hydrolysable cationic lipids having an amide linkage. Results from differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy using an environment-responsive probe, and confocal Raman microscopy showed that the dynamics observed were due to changes in the vesicle membrane, including variation in the lipid composition, induced by thermal stimulation.

Herbicidal ionic liquids based on esterquats

Herbicidal ionic liquids (HILs) are candidates for novel, efficient and environmentally friendly plant protection agents.

The biodegradation of monomeric and dimeric alkylammonium surfactants

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are salts known for having antiseptic and disinfectant properties. These compounds are toxic to aquatic organisms and should thus be removed from wastewater before its discharge into surface waters. The biodegradation of QACs takes place in the presence of microorganisms under aerobic conditions. The susceptibility of these compounds to degradation depends on numerous parameters. A number of them, such as the structure-adsorption on solids, and concentration of the QACs, as well as the presence of additional substances, have been reviewed in this article. Moreover, the biodegradability of new dimeric alkylammonium salts, i.e., cationic gemini surfactants, has been discussed and compared with that of anionic and nonionic geminis. The biodegradation study of monomeric and dimeric alkylammonium surfactants show that they are not easily degraded. The degradation process is very complex and strongly depends on the structure of the compound, adsorption-desorption processes on sludge, type of microorganism consortia and the presence of anions. Alkylammonium surfactants with biological motifs, like amide, peptides or carbohydrates, are much better degraded.

Effect of amide bonds on the self-assembly of gemini surfactants

The effect of amide bonds on micellar aggregation of gemini surfactants was studied by small angle neutron scattering and conductivity methods. The micellar aggregation properties were found to depend strongly on the number and position of amide bonds in the molecules.

Development of Cleavable Surfactants

Cleavable surfactants are of great interest for numerous reasons. These are amphiphiles in which a weak linkage has been deliberately inserted, normally, but not always, between the hydrophobic tail and the polar head group. Surfactant may degrade by chemical means, e.g., induced by acid, alkali, ultraviolet (UV) light, heat, or ozone. Acid- and alkali-labile surfactants have also attracted the attention in recent years. The main purpose for development of novel cleavable surfactants is to improve the biodegradation characteristics and the rate of biodegradation has consequently been studied for several of the surfactants. Alkali labile linkages that have been used for the purpose include normal ester bonds, betaine esters, and carbonates. This review deals the development of monomeric and gemini type cleavable surfactants.

Biotransformation of alkanoylcholines under methanogenic conditions

Ester quaternary ammonium compounds (esterquats), which are mainly used as active ingredients in fabric softeners and personal care products, are beginning to replace traditional quaternary ammonium compounds. As a result of hydrophobicity and increasing use, esterquats reach anaerobic treatment systems. However, little is known about the fate of esterquats under anaerobic conditions. In the present study, the potential inhibitory effect and biotransformation of two alkanoylcholines - acetylcholine chloride (ACh-Cl) and lauroylcholine chloride (LCh-Cl) - which are simple esterquats, under methanogenic conditions were investigated. ACh-Cl up to 300 mg/L was not inhibitory to a mixed methanogenic culture. In contrast, methanogenesis was inhibited by LCh-Cl above 50 mg/L, primarily caused by the accumulation of lauric acid which resulted from the abiotic hydrolysis of LCh. Below inhibitory concentrations, both ACh and LCh were transformed to methane by the mixed methanogenic culture. Mass spectrometric analysis confirmed that both alkanoylcholines were first abiotically hydrolyzed to choline and the corresponding alkanoic acid, which were then biotically transformed to methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia. Thus, alkanoylcholine-containing waste streams can be bioprocessed to form methane, but hydrolysis products such as long-chain alkanoic acids may adversely impact the anaerobic bioconversion of alkanoylcholines.

Controlled Release of Volatiles under Mild Reaction Conditions: From Nature to Everyday Products

Volatile organic compounds serve in nature as semiochemicals for communication between species, and are often used as flavors and fragrances in our everyday life. The quite limited longevity of olfactive perception has led to the development of pro-perfumes or pro-fragrances--ideally nonvolatile and odorless fragrance precursors which release the active volatiles by bond cleavage. Only a limited amount of reaction conditions, such as hydrolysis, temperature changes, as well as the action of light, oxygen, enzymes, or microorganisms, can be used to liberate the many different chemical functionalities. This Review describes the controlled chemical release of fragrances and discusses additional challenges such as precursor stability during product storage as well as some aspects concerning toxicity and biodegradability. As the same systems can be applied in different areas of research, the scope of this Review covers fragrance delivery as well as the controlled release of volatiles in general.

Interactions between benzyl benzoate and single- and double-chain quaternary ammonium surfactants

Interactions between benzyl benzoate and two different twin-tailed cationic surfactants have been studied. NMR diffusometry measurements have shown that cationic micelles grow in one dimension when benzyl benzoate is added. The location of benzyl benzoate in the micelles was evaluated by NOESY, showing that benzyl benzoate gave cross-peaks both to the hydrophobic groups in the surfactant and to the surfactant head group. Additions of benzyl benzoate to a lamellar phase of double-tailed quaternary surfactants revealed differences in responses. With an increasing concentration of benzyl benzoate, the structure of the dialkyl quat aggregate goes from lamellar to cubic, while the dialkyl ester quat forms a lamellar structure for all benzyl benzoate concentrations.

Enhancement of ozone oxidation and its associated processes in the presence of surfactant: degradation of atrazine

In this study, the degradation of atrazine (ATZ) by ozone (O3) oxidation and its associated processes (i.e. UV, UV/O3) in the presence and absence of surfactant was investigated and compared. A non-ionic surfactant, Brij 35, was selected. It was found that the presence of a low concentration of surfactant could improve the removal of ATZ by increasing the dissolution of ozone and the indirect generation of hydroxyl radicals. The saturated ozone level and the reaction rate constants were increased with increasing the concentration of surfactant and then decreased at higher surfactant doses at pH level of 2.5. A similar trend was observed at pH level of 7.0 in the presence of bicarbonate ion, because it is capable of deactivating the hydroxyl radicals generating at higher pH level. However, when the radical reactions become dominant in the ozonation (at pH 7.0 without bicarbonate), the saturated ozone level was higher than that with bicarbonate and the kinetic rate constants were increased first and levelled off with increasing of the dose of surfactant. Through the examining of a proposed unit performance index, the low concentration of surfactant is surely beneficial to the ozonation process. Besides, the direct photolysis and photo-assisted ozonation were compared to the ozonation. A significant enhancement on the decay rate of ATZ was resulted exclusively by adding the surfactant. An enhancement index for quantifying the improvement of the various processes was developed.

Nonionic ortho ester surfactants as cleavable emulsifiers

Acid labile surfactants containing an ortho ester link are used as emulsifiers for an aliphatic oil, squalane. The emulsions were made in the presence of a cationic polymer, either polyamine or the corresponding hydrophobically modified polyamine. Spontaneous hydrolysis of the surfactant resulted in emulsions stabilized by polymer together with degradation products from the surfactant. The effect of breakdown of the surfactant on the emulsion was evaluated by means of droplet size measurements and kinetic stability. One linear and one branched nonionic ortho ester surfactant with the same number of oxyethylene units were characterized and used for the purpose. The ortho ester surfactants are complex mixtures of components, ranging from very hydrophilic to very hydrophobic species. The chemical shift of the central methine proton in the ortho ester link is extremely sensitive to the substitution pattern and it was possible to identify by (1)H NMR the components that make up the surfactants, as has been reported earlier. The change in emulsion stability, the change in droplet size and the rate of surfactant hydrolysis were studied at acidic pH at room temperature. Both gas chromatography and (1)H NMR were used in order to monitor the surfactant degradation. The presence of a polymer gave a more sluggish breakdown of the surfactants, probably due to hydrophobic shielding by the polymer. There was a good correlation between increase of droplet size and degree of surfactant decomposition.

Hydrolyzable nonionic surfactants: Stability and physicochemical properties of surfactants containing carbonate, ester, and amide bonds

A linear and a branched nonionic cleavable surfactants containing a carbonate bond have been prepared from tetra(ethylene glycol) and an alkylchloroformate. The stability of these carbonate surfactants was determined by investigating their hydrolysis and biodegradability characteristics. The hydrolysis was catalyzed by alkali or enzymes (esterase from porcine liver and lipases from Mucor miehei and Candida antarctica B) and was monitored using 1H NMR. It was found that the stability toward alkali was higher for a carbonate surfactant than for a corresponding surfactant with an ester as weak bond. Biodegradation tests resulted in more than 60% degradation after 28 days for both carbonate surfactants. Physicochemical properties, such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), cloud point, area per molecule, and surface tension at the CMC, were determined and compared to those obtained from similar surfactants containing ester, amide, or ether bonds. It was found that the carbonate linkage is hydrophobic and that the oxycarbonyl part of the carbonate group is equivalent, in a formal sense, to an extra methylene group in the alkyl chain of the surfactant.

Mixed solutions of an associating polymer with a cleavable surfactant

Mixtures of hydrophobically modified hydroxyethyl cellulose (HMHEC) and alkali-sensitive cleavable betaine ester surfactants have been studied by viscometry, 1H NMR, absorbance measurements, and birefringence determinations. Before the hydrolysis, the surfactants behaved as conventional nondegradable surfactants in terms of the effect on the viscosity of increasing surfactant concentration. As the surfactants were hydrolyzed, systems with time-dependent viscosity were obtained. The viscosity either decreased monotonically or went through a maximum as a function of time, depending on the initial surfactant concentration. Different surfactant chain lengths gave rise to different viscosity profiles. The rate of hydrolysis, and thus the time-dependency of the surfactant concentration, could be controlled by changing the pH of the solution.

Metabolites and dead-end products from the microbial oxidation of quaternary ammonium alcohols

Methyl-triethanol-ammonium originates from the hydrolysis of the parent esterquat surfactant, which is used as softener in fabric care. The initial steps of the catabolism were investigated in cell-free extracts of the bacterial strain MM 1 able to grow with methyl-triethanol-ammonium as sole source of carbon, energy and nitrogen. The initial degradation of methyl-triethanol-ammonium is an enzymatically catalyzed reaction, located in the particulate fraction of strain MM 1. The oxygen dependent reaction occurred also in presence of phenazine methosulfate as an alternative electron acceptor. As soon as one ethanol group of methyl-triethanol-ammonium was oxidized to the aldehyde, cyclic hemiacetals were formed by intramolecular cyclization. The third ethanol group of methyl-triethanol-ammonium was oxidized to the aldehyde and the carboxylic acid sequentially. The structurally related compounds dimethyl-diethanol-ammonium and choline were oxidized as well, whereas (+/-)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl-trimethyl-ammonium was not converted at all. The structures of the metabolites were established by 1D and 2D 1H, 13C and 14N NMR spectroscopy and by capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry.