A thermodynamic model of clouding in ethoxylate mixtures

Phase separation of triton X-100 and bovine serum albumin mixture: Impacts of nature and composition of polyols on associated physicochemical parameters

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is widely used in tissue engineering and pharmaceutical research. It is readily available as a byproduct of the cattle industry, and collected from blood. In this study, we conducted a physicochemical investigation of the phase separation in a mixture of Triton X-100 (TX-100) and BSA, influenced by various polyols, using the well-established cloud point (CP) determination method. The addition of polyols resulted in a significant reduction in CP values for the TX-100 + BSA mixture. The magnitudes of CP in the experimental system were highly varied with different polyols and followed the order of: [Formula: see text] Under identical conditions, the system exhibited maximum solubility in the xylose solution and minimum solubility in the maltose solution. The positive ΔGc0 values were acquired in all working medium imply the nonspontaneity of phase transition in the TX-100 + BSA system. At lower polyol contents, the negative values of standard enthalpy (∆Hc0) and standard entropy (∆Sc0) changes were observed, suggesting that electrostatic forces dominated as the driving force for clouding. At highest employed polyols concentration in some case, the positive values for ∆Hc0 and ∆Sc0 were achieved, which indicated that hydrophobic interactions likely dominate the phase partitioning of the amphiphile and protein mixture. Additionally, entropy-enthalpy compensation parameters were calculated and analyzed with a rational approach. Molecular docking analysis further demonstrated the presence of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions between TX-100 and BSA.

Temperature-Responsive Nano-Biomaterials from Genetically Encoded Farnesylated Disordered Proteins

Despite broad interest in understanding the biological implications of protein farnesylation in regulating different facets of cell biology, the use of this post-translational modification to develop protein-based materials and therapies remains underexplored. The progress has been slow due to the lack of accessible methodologies to generate farnesylated proteins with broad physicochemical diversities rapidly. This limitation, in turn, has hindered the empirical elucidation of farnesylated proteins' sequence-structure-function rules. To address this gap, we genetically engineered prokaryotes to develop operationally simple, high-yield biosynthetic routes to produce farnesylated proteins and revealed determinants of their emergent material properties (nano-aggregation and phase-behavior) using scattering, calorimetry, and microscopy. These outcomes foster the development of farnesylated proteins as recombinant therapeutics or biomaterials with molecularly programmable assembly.

Clouding phenomenon in amphiphilic systems: A review of five decades

Phase separation in amphiphilic systems is an important phenomenon. The temperature at which an amphiphilic solution phase separates is known as Cloud Point (CP). This article reviews in detail the process of phase separation in various amphiphiles (surfactants, polymers and drugs) and effect of different classes of additives on the CP of these amphiphilic systems. Ions affect the CP of drugs in a different way: kosmotropes and hard bases decrease while chaotropes and soft bases increase the CP of nonionic and cationic surfactants. Anionic surfactants show CP in presence of quaternary salts only. Thus, depending upon the nature and concentration of additive, the CP of an amphiphilic system gets increased or decreased and, hence, properties of the system may be tuned as per the need and use. A system with CP at high concentration can be made to phase separate at lower concentration by simply introducing an appropriate additive in it. This makes the system cost effective. On the other hand, if not required, a low CP can be enhanced with the help of another type of a suitable additive.

Study of the Cloud Point of C12 E6 Nonionic Surfactant: Effect of Additives

Addition of electrolytes to surfactant solutions does change the temperature at which the clouding phenomena occur. Electrolytes have a large effect on the cloud point (CP) of hexa ethyleneglycol mono-n-dodecyl ether (C12 E6)/water system, because of their effect on water structure and their hydrophilicity. In this work we report the effect of electrolytes (KCl, NaCl and Na2CO3) on the (CP) of C12 E6/water system. It has been observed that the cloud point as a function of electrolyte's concentration, depends mostly on the electrolyte's charge. Furthermore it has been observed that the two factors, temperature and salt concentration mainly affect equivalently the phase separation of C12 E6/water system. Moreover, ionic surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and carboxylate ethoxyle (TDC) have been used to investigate their effect on CP of C12 E6.

Effect of Non-electrolytes on the Cloud Point and Dye Solubilization of Antidepressant Drug, Clomipramine Hydrochloride

Clomipramine hydrochloride (CLP, an amphiphilic drug) solutions, prepared in sodium phosphate buffer, show temperature dependent phase separation (commonly known as Cloud Point, CP). CP can be varied with the help of additives. Hence, in this paper we are reporting the effect of various additives on the CP of CLP. Alcohols affect in two ways: CP either remains constant (or increases slightly) or decreases. Short chain alcohols remain soluble in aqueous phase and CP remains nearly constant in their presence as alcohol-water mixed system proves better solvent for the drug. Long chain alcohols, due to their hydrophobic nature, partition into the drug micelles and cause micellar growth which, in turn, decreases the CP. Sugars enhance the hydrophobic forces and decrease the CP. CP with amino acids is found to be nature dependent: acidic amino acids and hydrochloride salts of basic amino acids increase the CP (due to the interaction of their negatively charged side chains with the drug molecules). Basic amino acids decrease the CP. With polar and uncharged polar amino acids, CP remains constant. This last class of amino acids either remains in the bulk phase or solubilizes inside the micelle, and in either case, the hydration of micelles, and the CP, remain unaffected.

Study of the Cloud Point of C12EO6 and C12EO8 Nonionic Surfactants: Effect of Additives

Significant change in the cloud point of the nonionic surfactant solutions is observed by adding foreign substance. The aqueous solutions of these surfactants show complex phase behaviour including liquid-liquid separation at higher temperature. Electrolytes as well as nonelectrolytes have a large effect on the cloud point (CP) of C12EO6 and C12EO8 nonionic surfactants, because of their effect on water structure and their hydrophilicity. The presence of NaI and KI in the systems leads to a substantial increase in the cloud point of 2 wt% of the C12EO6 and C12EO8 solutions, but the increase is relatively less with KI than with NaI. Moreover, the cloud point decreases in the presence of NaF, NaCl and NaBr, and also similar identical observation was seen in the cloud point with KF, KCl and KBr, respectively. Furthermore, the results show that the addition of the tetramethyl ammonium bromide (TMABr) decreases the cloud point of the C12EO6 and C12EO8, whereas the addition of tetrabutyl ammonium iodide (TBAI) increases the cloud point of the above systems. The clouding phenomenon of the aqueous C12EO6 and C12EO8 systems in the presence of various additives is discussed.

Physiochemical Properties of Hydroxy Mixed Ether HMEn Surfactants and their Interaction with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate SDS

This paper is focused on the phase behavior, interaction with anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate SDS, adsorption and wetting investigations of new hydroxy mixed ether nonionic surfactants HMEn. The phase diagrams of (0.1–100) %wt of HMEn (n-value is the ethoxylation number EO) at the temperature range 20–100°C have shown that the increasing of n-value raises the cloud boundary toward higher temperature. Remarkable result was obtained from the interaction between SDS and HMEB, at which the mixed system exhibits a unique homogeneity and a liquid crystal phase formation. Macroscopically, the liquid crystal region was found when the SDS concentration range between 8 and 24 mM mixed with 10% wt HMEB. The interaction between HMEn and mica was also investigated using atomic force microscopy AFM and a pronounced adsorption of HMEn on mica was observed. Moreover, contact angle results reveal that glass substrate shows strong wettability of HMEn surfactant solutions compared with polyethylene PE and polymethylmethaacrylate PMMA substrates. This wettability however also decreases with EO number.

Extraction of humic acid by coacervate: investigation of direct and back processes

The two aqueous phases extraction process is widely used in environmental clean up of industrial effluents and fine chemical products for their reuse. This process can be made by cloud point of polyethoxylated alcohols and micellar solubilization phenomenon. It is commonly called "coacervate extraction" and is used, in our case, for humic acid extraction from aqueous solution at 100mg/L. The surfactants used are alcohol polyethoxylate and alkylphenol polyethoxylate. Phase diagrams of binary water/surfactant and pseudo-binary are plotted. The extraction results are expressed by the following responses: percentage of solute extracted, E (%), residual concentrations of solute and surfactant in dilute phase (X(s,w), and X(t,w) respectively) and volume fraction of coacervate at equilibrium (ϕ). For each parameter, the experimental results are fitted to empirical equations in three dimensions. The aim of this study is to find out the best compromise between E and ϕC. The comparison between experimental and calculated values allows models validation. Sodium sulfate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) addition and pH effect are also studied. Finally, the possibility of recycling the surfactant has been proved.

When depletion goes critical

Depletion interactions in correlated fluids are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. A formally exact derivation of a general expression for depletion interactions is presented and then specialized to the case of critical correlations in the depletant by employing a long wavelength approximate analysis. A scaling expression is obtained in the critical region, suggesting a close connection to the critical Casimir effect. As a result we are able to compute the full scaling function of the critical Casimir effect in terms of the known scaling form of the depletant equation of state. These predictions are experimentally tested in a colloidal suspension with a micellar solution as depletion agent. Colloids are seen to aggregate reversibly when the micellar concentration exceeds a temperature dependent value which becomes remarkably small as the temperature approaches the lower consolution point of the micellar suspension. Continuity between the standard depletion picture at low temperature and the Casimir effect in the critical region is demonstrated by identifying several approximate scaling laws which compare favorably with the theoretical analysis. The transition line is seen to lie close to the curve of maximum susceptibility of the depletant. A model, analyzed within mean field approximation, is shown to reproduce the main qualitative features of the phenomenon.

QSPR modeling of nonionic surfactant cloud points: an update

Quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models for the cloud points of nonionic surfactants were developed based on CODESSA descriptors. Essentials accounting for a reliable model were considered carefully. Four descriptors were selected by a generic algorithm (GA) method to link the structures of nonionic surfactants to their corresponding cloud-point values. The descriptors were also analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). Nonlinear models based on support vector machine (SVM) and projection pursuit regression (PPR) were also developed. All models were validated in two ways, i.e., internal cross-validation (CV) and a test set. The results are discussed in light of the main factors that influence the property under investigation and its modeling. In addition, an independent external data set of 16 nonionic surfactants was used to check the generalization ability of the optimum model.

Study on cloud points of Triton X-100-cationic gemini surfactants mixtures: a spectroscopic approach

This study investigates the effects of various cationic surfactants on the cloud point (CP) of the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100) in aqueous solutions. Instead of visual observation, a spectrophotometer was used for measurement of the cloud point temperatures. The values of CPs for Triton X-100 can be measured directly because TX-100 has an average number of oxyethylene units per molecule of p approximately 9.5 and a CP=66.0 degrees C. Quaternary ammonium dimeric surfactants (m-s-m, m=10, 12, and 16, and s=2, 6, and 10) were synthesized and used. The melting temperature T(M) and the Krafft temperature T(K) were measured for 1 wt% aqueous solutions of these synthesized surfactants. The melting temperature of the solid gemini surfactants increased with the carbon number of the alkyl chain. The results showed that additions of the gemini surfactants (which are infinitely miscible with water) to Triton X-100 increased the cloud point of the TX-100 solutions. All salts tested in these studies had a large effect on the CPs of nonionic surfactants due to their effect on water structure and their hydrophilicity. The effect of the alkyl chain length of the gemini surfactant on the CP of Triton X-100 is therefore more important than the spacer chain length.

Cloud point phenomena for POE-type nonionic surfactants in imidazolium-based ionic liquids: effect of anion species of ionic liquids on the cloud point

Cloud point temperatures, T(c), of polyoxyethylene (POE)-type nonionic surfactants in a room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (bmimPF(6)), were measured and compared with those previously obtained for the surfactant solution in bmimBF(4). The T(c)s for bmimPF(6) solution are higher than those for bmimBF(4) solution by approx. 40 degrees C. This means that the surfactant molecules are more solvophilic in bmimPF(6) compared to bmimBF(4). The analysis of (1)H NMR chemical shift measurements proved that the higher solvophilicity of the surfactants in bmimPF(6) is attributed to weaker hydrogen-bond interaction between bmim cation and PF6- anion than that between bmim cation and BF4- anion. This interpretation is consistent with the interaction energy parameters derived from the thermodynamic analysis of cloud point curve applying the Flory-Huggins model for phase separation in polymer solution. The present work demonstrates that the property of imidazolium-based ionic liquids as a solvent is determined by a balance of interactions among imidazolium cation, counter anion, and solute molecule.

Control of phase behavior and properties of vesicle gels by admixing ionic surfactants to the nonionic surfactant Brij 30

The effect of the addition of two cationic surfactants of different chain length (decyl and dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide, DeTMABr and DTMABr, respectively) and one anionic surfactant of identical chain length (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) on phase behavior, structure, and macroscopic properties of a bilayer forming nonionic surfactant (Brij 30) has been investigated by means of phase studies, rheology, turbidity measurements, dynamic light scattering, and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy. We concentrated on DTMABr because of the generically similar behavior for the other ionic surfactants. It is found that already very small amounts of added ionic surfactant have a very pronounced effect on the phase behavior of these systems. The pure nonionic surfactant forms bilayers and has a tendency for the formation of vesicles which becomes enhanced by charging the bilayer through the incorporation of the ionic surfactant. The presence of the ionic surfactant leads to much more viscous systems, which already at a total surfactant concentration of 150 mM become gel-like. For a given surfactant concentration, the elastic properties of the gels increase largely upon the addition of ionic surfactant. This effect is strongly synergistic, requiring only very small amounts of added ionic surfactant, and the elastic properties pass through a maximum for a content of ionic surfactant of about 3-5 mol %. This behavior can be explained in a self-consistent way by a simple rheological model and by combining it with light scattering data. For the addition of larger amounts, the elastic properties decrease again and the formed vesicles become structurally less defined as one is leaving the range of conditions for forming well-defined vesicles, which are required for forming elastic vesicle gels.

Cloud point phenomena for POE-type nonionic surfactants in a model room temperature ionic liquid

The cloud point phenomenon has been investigated for the solutions of polyoxyethylene (POE)-type nonionic surfactants (C(12)E(5), C(12)E(6), C(12)E(7), C(10)E(6), and C(14)E(6)) in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmimBF(4)), a typical room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL). The cloud point, T(c), increases with the elongation of the POE chain, while decreases with the increase in the hydrocarbon chain length. This demonstrates that the solvophilicity/solvophobicity of the surfactants in RTIL comes from POE chain/hydrocarbon chain. When compared with an aqueous system, the chain length dependence of T(c) is larger for the RTIL system regarding both POE and hydrocarbon chains; in particular, hydrocarbon chain length affects T(c) much more strongly in the RTIL system than in equivalent aqueous systems. In a similar fashion to the much-studied aqueous systems, the micellar growth is also observed in this RTIL solvent as the temperature approaches T(c). The cloud point curves have been analyzed using a Flory-Huggins-type model based on phase separation in polymer solutions.

Effects of gamma radiation on phase behaviour and critical micelle concentration of Triton X-100 aqueous solutions

Ionising radiation used for sterilization can have an effect on the physicochemical properties of pharmaceutically relevant excipient systems, affecting therefore the stability of the formulation. The effect of gamma irradiation on the phase behaviour (cloud point--CP) and critical micelle concentration (CMC) of aqueous solutions of Triton X-100, used as a model nonionic surfactant, is investigated in this paper. Micellar solutions were irradiated with gamma-rays in a dose range between 0 and 70 kGy, including the sterilization range of pharmaceutical preparations. The decreased observed in CP and CMC values of micellar solutions at all absorbed doses was explained in terms of changes in molecular mass distribution of ethoxylated surfactant and the formation of cross-linked species. These results were complemented by mass spectrometry, UV-vis and NMR spectroscopy. Although the findings indicate degradation of polyethoxylated chains by water radical attacks, there was no spectroscopic evidence of radiation damage to aromatic ring or hydrocarbon tail of surfactant. Models based on Flory-Huggins theory were employed to estimate CP from changes in mass distribution and to obtain cross-linking fractions. Surface tension measurements of non-irradiated and irradiated solutions were used for estimating the effectiveness and efficiency of surfactant in the formulation.

Lower consolute boundaries of the nonionic surfactant C8E5 in aqueous alkali halide solutions: An approach to reproduce the effects of alkali halides on the cloud-point temperature

In the temperature-composition phase diagram of the nonionic surfactant n-octyl-hydroxypenta(oxyethylene), C(8)E(5), there are three principal curves; the one for the critical micelle concentration (cmc), the one delineating the existence of the hexagonal phase, and then the lower consolute boundary (lcb). In this work it is clarified how the presence of the alkali halides NaF, LiCl, NaCl, NaBr and NaI in the aqueous solutions, up to high molalities, change the lcb temperature-position and shape. The lcbs are obtained from measurements of cloud-point temperatures. Rather marked anion-controlled shifts are observed in the boundary temperature-position, and the order of the anions is in accordance with the prediction of the Hofmeister series. Also the shape of the boundary is affected in an anion-specific way, so that the largest changes are found with the strongest salting-out agent. The separation point varies in distinctly non-linear manners with the molality of the studied alkali halides. An approach is presented that can reproduce the effects of the alkali halides on the cloud-point temperature of C(8)E(5) and a poly(ethylene oxide) polymer, at low amounts of the macroentities. In this approach use is made of the known behaviour of the electrolytes at the air/water surface and the virial expansion, to account for the initial salting-out/-in effect and the variation of the effect with electrolyte molality.

Interactions and two-phase coexistence in nonionic micellar solutions as determined by static light scattering

We suggest semi-phenomenological approaches for the pair interaction potential in aqueous C(m)E(n) solutions. These expressions are non-linear least squares fitted to static light scattering data from solutions of C(m)E4 and C(m)E8 surfactants in the long wavelength limit. From the resulting interaction parameters we calculate the location of the liquid/liquid two phase coexistence curves, which are in very good agreement with experimental data reported by others.

Cloud point of aqueous solutions containing oxyethylated methyl dodecanoates: effects of surfactant hydrophilicity, nature of added electrolyte, and water activity

The aim of this work was to determine the cloud points of new oxyethylated methyl dodecanoates of various hydrophilicity (OMD-n, where n refers to the average degree of oxyethylation) and to correlate them with surfactant hydrophilicity and, for a given electrolyte, with water activity. Thus, it is shown that the cloud point in the absence of electrolyte (CP(0)) can be simulated by the following equation: CP(0)=165.5logn-112.0 (with R(2)=0.987). The effects of NaCl, NaHCO(3), and KSCN on the cloud point are also reported and discussed. The salting-out effect arising from the presence of NaCl or NaHCO(3) is explained by the existence of a hydration shell with enhanced water structure as well as a zone with decreased salt concentration around the -(OCH(2)CH(2))(n)- chain, as compared with the bulk. On the other hand, the salting-in effect is explained by depletion of water around the -(OCH(2)CH(2))(n)- chain. Thus, it is estimated that the number b of water molecules forced back into the bulk solution from the salt-deficient regions when the hydration shells of two -O-CH(2)-CH(2)- monomer units overlap ranges between 2 and 3 and 3 and 4 for NaCl and NaHCO(3), respectively, depending on the average degree of oxyethylation n of OMD-n. It is also shown that the water activity is a useful parameter to simulate the variation of cloud point in the presence of an electrolyte (CP) at low and moderate concentration (e.g., <1 M NaCl), CP(0)/CP approximately 1-(bR/alpha)lna(w), where R is the gas constant and alpha approximately 15 JK(-1)mol(-1). At high electrolyte concentration, the relationship between CP(0)/CP and lna(w) significantly deviates from linearity. In the particular case of KSCN, an inversion of the salt effect can be observed. The salting-in effect of KSCN increases up to about 2 M, but decreases at higher KSCN concentrations, so that KSCN can even act as a salting-out salt at high concentration (typically above 3.3 M for OMD-14).

Cloud point temperature of polyoxyethylene-type nonionic surfactants and their mixtures

The cloud point temperature, T(c), was investigated for aqueous solutions of poly(oxyethylene) alkyl ethers, C(n)E(m), and their mixtures. The experimental T(c)'s for single surfactant systems were analyzed according to the Flory-Huggins model for cloud point phenomenon, and the enthalpy and the entropy changes associated with the process of the separation of micellar solution into pure water and pure surfactant were estimated. It was found that the enthalpy-entropy compensation relationship holds for this process. The Flory-Huggins model was extended to the binary surfactant mixtures, and the expression of T(c) as a function of the composition was derived assuming the regular solution for mixed micelles. The experimental results of T(c) obtained for mixtures of C(n)E(m) were well reproduced by the model calculation. Discussion is given concerning the interaction parameters of different surfactant species in mixed micelles determined by this model calculation.

Solid-Liquid Phase Behavior of Binary Mixture of Tetraethylene Glycol Decyl Ether and Water

Solid-liquid phase behavior of binary mixture of nonionic surfactant, tetraethylene glycol decyl ether (C10E4), and water was examined by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and visual observation in the temperature range -40-70 degreesC. The DSC experiments allowed us to determine many phase boundaries among various phases appearing in this mixture system, including mesomorphic phases. The T-X phase diagram for fluid phases of C10E4/H2O mixture constructed from the results of DSC and visual observation was in good agreement with that previously reported by Lang and Morgan for the same mixture system except for the occurrence of a dilute lamellar phase (Lang, J. C. and Morgan, R. D., J. Chem. Phys., 73, 5849 (1980). The FT-IR spectra obtained for the mixture in a solid state demonstrated that the phase compound expressed by C10E4 . 6H2O is formed in the solid phase, which indicates that there is a strong interaction in the solid state between water and the hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chain of the surfactant. The FT-IR results also suggested that the strength of the hydrogen bond between water and the polyoxyethylene chain of C10E4 differs among the phase states of the mixture, and increases in the order L2 < L1 < Lalpha approximately H1 < solid, where L2 refers to the inverted micellar phase, L1 the normal micellar phase, Lalpha the lamellar phase, and H1 the normal hexagonal phase. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

Phase Behavior of Binary Mixture of Heptaethylene Glycol Decyl Ether and Water: Formation of Phase Compound in Solid Phase

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to construct and characterize the phase diagram for a binary mixture of heptaethylene glycol decyl ether (C10 E7 ) and water in the temperature range from -60 to 80&deg;C. Plots of the endothermic peak temperatures obtained by DSC measurements against compositions provided eutectic solid-liquid phase boundaries with a eutectic composition of 34 wt% of H2 O. On the other hand, heat of fusion per unit weight of the mixture changed discretely at the composition corresponding to the "eutectic" composition. Furthermore, the IR spectra obtained for the mixture in the solid phase were well reproduced as a superposition of those for the mixture of 34 wt% H2 O and pure components but were not reproduced by superimposing the spectra obtained for the solid surfactant and ice. These observations indicate that a solid phase compound is formed between C10 E7 and water with a stoichiometry of 1:14 and that the compound and pure components exist as separate phases, rather than the phases separating into surfactant and ice, which would be expected if the C10 E7 /water mixture formed a true eutectic mixture system. It is estimated from the composition corresponding to the phase compounds that two molecules of water per oxyethylene unit are bound to hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chain of C10 E7 to form a hydrated compound.

Aggregation and surface properties of synthetic double-chain non-ionic surfactants in aqueous solution

Double-chain non-ionic surfactants have been synthesized with the general formula 2CnMPEG750, where n is the number of carbons in the alkyl chains and 750 is the molecular weight of the monomethoxypolyoxyethylene (MPEG) head group. The aggregation and surface properties in dilute aqueous solution (< 1.0% w/w) of surfactants with n = 8, 10 and 12 have been determined. Each of the surfactants formed clear, foaming, non-birefringent solutions. Total-intensity light scattering indicated the presence of micelles with aggregation numbers of 36, 68 and 74 for the 2C8, 2C10 and 2C12 surfactants, respectively, whereas photon-correlation studies yielded radii, assuming spherical aggregates, of 59-103 A. Surface-tension measurements gave critical micelle concentrations for the surfactants in the range 1.15-7.24 x 10(-6) M; these, as expected, decreased when the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chains was increased. Such studies are important in the design of new surfactants as vehicles for drug delivery because it is imperative to be able to predict the type of aggregate formed by a surfactant.