Synthesis of new sugar-based surfactants having biological applications: key role of their self-association

Specific optical rotation is a versatile tool for the identification of critical micelle concentration and micellar growth of tartaric acid-based diastereomeric amphiphiles

Four novel tartaric acid-based diastereomeric chiral amphiphiles, two being enantiomers of the other two, have been synthesized and investigated using chiroptical spectroscopic methods, along with tensiometry and dynamic light scattering experiments. We found that an inflection point in specific optical rotation (SOR) values at ~0.32 mM corresponds to the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The increase in magnitude of SOR values beyond CMC corresponds to the growth of aggregates. For enantiomers, oppositely signed SOR values were observed, ruling out the possibility for the presence of aggregation size mediated artefacts. SOR values did not exhibit concentration dependence for a chiral tartaric acid based non-aggregating analogue further establishing the absence of artefacts or anomalous interaction of tartaric acid based head group with solvent. Electronic circular dichroism spectra showed no significant changes in band positions or intensities with concentration. Due to the requirement for higher concentrations (~200 mM) needed to obtain vibrational circular dichroism spectra, these measurements are not found to be useful for studying concentration dependent properties of chiral amphiphiles.

Synthesis, Surface and Biological Activities of Cationic Surfactants Based on Glycine Moiety

Two series of cationic surfactants based on glycine molecule as sulfonate salt of N,N-diethyl glycine fatty esters having a hydrocarbon chain length of C12,C16 and C18 followed by quaternerization with ethyl iodide were synthesized. Their chemical structures were confirmed using IR,1H-NMR, and mass spectroscopy. The surface activity of these amphiphiles has been determined by measurement of their surface tension. Parameters like surface tension (γ), critical micelle concentration (cmc), effectiveness (Πcmc), efficiency (pC20), maximum surface excess (Γmax), minimum surface area (Amin) and Gibbs free energy of the micellization (ΔGmic) and adsorption (ΔGads) have been determined from the measurements obtained by surface tension method. All these surfactants showed much lower CMC values compared to the similar hydrophobic chain length surfactant. All synthesized compounds have been evaluated for their biological activity against bacteria and fungi.

Synthesis and bio-physicochemical properties of amide-functionalized N-methylpiperazinium surfactants

Four new amide functionalized N-methylpiperazinium amphiphiles having tetradecyl, hexadecyl alkyl chain lengths and counterions; chloride or bromide have been synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. These new surfactants have been investigated in detail for their self-assembling behavior by surface tension, conductivity and fluorescence measurements. The thermodynamic parameters of these surfactants indicate that micellization is exothermic and entropy-driven. The dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments have been performed to insight the aggregate size of these cationics. Thermal degradation of these new surfactants has also been evaluated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). These new surfactants form stable complexes with DNA as acknowledged by agarose gel electrophoresis, ethidium bromide exclusion and zeta potential measurements. They have also been found to have low cytotoxicity by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay on the C6 glioma cell line.

Adsorption behavior of surface chemically pure N-cycloalkylaldonamides at the air/water interface

Equilibrium surface tension (sigma(e)) and electric surface potential (DeltaV(e)) versus concentration isotherms of the homologous series of N-cycloalkylaldonamides synthesized from cycloalkylamines (from cyclopentyl- to cyclododecylamine) and D-glucono-1,5-lactone (c-C(n)GA) or D-glucoheptono-1,4-lactone (c-C(n)GHA) (c-n(C) = 5-12) were investigated at the air/water interface. The measurements were performed with aqueous, surface chemically pure surfactant solutions. Equilibrium surface tension vs concentration isotherms were evaluated to get the adsorption parameters, i.e., standard free energy of adsorption, DeltaG degrees (ads), saturation surface concentration, Gamma(infinity), minimum surface area demand per molecule adsorbed, A(min), and interaction parameter, H(s). Increasing the size of the cycloalkyl moiety leads to a significant increase of the minimum surface area demand per molecule adsorbed. This fact, together with a decrease of the intermolecular interaction parameter suggests that the introduction of a more bulky cycloalkyl ring (c-n(C) = 7 and 8) causes an attenuation of the hydrogen-bond network. This goes in line with the exceptional finding that the higher homologues revealed improved solubility in water. In addition, surface tension investigations suggest occurrence of a phase transition for the N-cyclooctylaldonamides at relatively small surface coverage. This observation is well supported by the surface potential measurements, for which the effect of possible changes in the molecules' surface orientation is even more pronounced. Moreover, the concentration intervals of N-cyclooctylaldonamide in which the change in orientation is observed for either the surface tension or the surface potential isotherms are in very good agreement.

Synthesis and amphiphilic properties of S-alkylthiopentonolactones and their pentitol derivatives

The amphiphilic properties of S-alkylthiopentono-1,4-lactones (D-ribono-, D-arabinono-, D-xylono-) and corresponding pentitol derivatives with the general formula Su-SR (R=CnH2n+1) are studied. It was shown that CMC, surface area, CPP, and pC20 are influenced by the following structural parameters: alkyl chain length, the number of free hydroxyls, cyclic or acyclic Su structure, and alditol configuration.

Adsorption behavior of surface-chemically pure N-alkyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)aldonamides at the air/water interface

N-alkyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)aldonamides (alkyl: n-C6H13, n-C8H17, n-C10H21, n-C12H25, and n-C14H29) were obtained in the reaction of long-chain N-alkyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)amines with D-glucono-1,5-lactone and D-glucoheptono-1,4-lactone. The adsorption isotherms were obtained from surface tension measurements of aqueous solutions of surface-chemically pure surfactants. The experimental equilibrium surface tension versus concentration isotherms were evaluated by the Frumkin adsorption equation to get the adsorption parameters, namely, standard free energy of adsorption, deltaG(o)ad, saturation adsorption, gammainfinity minimum surface area demand per molecule adsorbed, Amin, and interaction parameter, Hs. The investigated functionalized alkylaldonamides show improved solubility in comparison with the corresponding sugar derivatives of the primary amines. The introduction of the -CHOH moiety into the saccharide headgroup causes a noticeable increase of the hydrophobic character of surfactant. The minimum surface area demand, Amin, is slightly greater for glucoheptonamides than for the corresponding gluconamides. The practically constant Amin value within the homologue series of the aldonamides indicates that the obtuse hydroxyethyl residue is the determining factor for the arrangement of the adsorbed surfactants in the interfacial layer.

Synthesis of novel N,N-di-n-alkylaldonamides and properties of their surface chemically pure adsorption layers at the air/water interface

A homologous series of new surface-active N,N-di-n-alkyl-substituted amides derived from delta-D-gluconolactone and alpha-D-glucoheptonic-gamma-lactone were synthesized. The adsorption isotherms of their surface-chemically pure solutions were measured and evaluated to obtain the adsorption parameters of standard free energy of adsorption (DeltaG(0)(ad)), surface excess (Gamma( infinity )), cross-sectional area of the adsorbed surfactant molecule (A(min)), and surface interaction parameter (H(s)). The surfactants possess comparatively low solubilities and do not form micelles at room temperature. This behavior is opposite to that of the other types of sugar surfactants showing excellent solubility and a strong tendency to association/micellization. The derivatives of gluconamide reveal surface activity slightly higher than that of the derivatives of glucoheptonamide, especially for long alkyl chains (n(C)>4). An increase in A(min) of about 6 A(2)/molecule for the gluconic series is observed.

Synthesis and Surface Properties of N-Alkyl-N-methylgluconamides and N-Alkyl-N-methyllactobionamides

Three series of nonionic N-alkylaldonamides, N-alkyl-N-methylgluconamides (Cn-MGA, Cn: n-C(10)H(21), n-C(12)H(25), n-C(14)H(29), n-C(16)H(33), and n-C(18)H(37)), N-alkyl-N-methyllactobionamides (Cn-MLA, alkyl as above-mentioned), and N-oleyl-N-methylglucon/lactobionamide, were synthesized in the reaction of an appropriate N-alkyl-N-methylamine with delta-D-glucolactone and lactobionic acid, respectively. Krafft temperatures of aqueous solutions and surface properties of these surfactants at 20 degrees C, i.e., surface excess concentration, Gamma(cmc), surface area demand per molecule, A(min), efficiency in surface tension reduction, pC(20), effectiveness in surface tension reduction, Pi(cmc), critical micelle concentration, CMC, and CMC/C(20) parameter as well as standard free energies of adsorption, DeltaG degrees (ads), and of micellization, DeltaG degrees (mic), were determined. It was shown that introduction of the methyl group to the amide nitrogen increased the solubility of the surfactants, which was confirmed by their Krafft temperatures. Lactobionamides are more water soluble than gluconamides. On the other hand, the Cn-MGA surfactants are more surface active than the respective Cn-MLA ones. This observation is based on the determined adsorption and micellization parameters. The presence of one double bond in a hydrocarbon chain as in oleyl-amides increases their hydrophilic character compared with that of saturated C18 derivatives. No distinct differences were observed between the A(min) values obtained for both series studied, although they differ markedly in the size of the hydrophilic groups. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Carbohydrate- and related polyol-derived fluorosurfactants: an update

A short review of recent literature is presented on the synthesis, biological properties, colloid and surface chemistry, and applications of carbohydrate- and related polyol-derived amphiphiles with perfluoroalkyl hydrophobes.

Preparation and antibiotic activity of monobactam analogues of nocardicins

A series of diverse beta-lactam analogues of nocardicins with interesting antimicrobial properties were prepared. Coupling of glucosamine to these compounds improved their water solubility. Aminoacid derivatives produced a stereoinduction on the quaternary enantiotopic carbon of the starting compound 1. Evaluation of their antimicrobial activity showed that the introduction of alpha-amninoacids to monobactams increased their activity. The importance of asymmetric carbon is exemplified by the higher antibiotic activity of L-alpha-aminoacids than the D-series. No significant difference was observed between fluorinated and non-fluorinated monobactams.

Highly fluorinated amphiphiles and colloidal systems, and their applications in the biomedical field. A contribution

Fluorocarbons and fluorocarbon moieties are uniquely characterized by very strong intramolecular bonds and very weak intermolecular interactions. This results in a combination of exceptional thermal, chemical and biological inertness, low surface tension, high fluidity, excellent spreading characteristics, low solubility in water, and high gas dissolving capacities, which are the basis for innovative applications in the biomedical field. Perfluoroalkyl chains are larger and more rigid than their hydrogenated counterparts. They are considerably more hydrophobic, and are lipophobic as well. A large variety of well-defined, modular fluorinated surfactants whose polar head groups consist of polyols, sugars, sugar phosphates, amino acids, amine oxides, phosphocholine, phosphatidylcholine, etc, has recently been synthesized. Fluorinated surfactants are significantly more surface active than their hydrocarbon counterparts, both in terms of effectiveness and of efficiency. Despite this, they are less hemolytic and less detergent. Fluorosurfactants appear unable to extract membrane proteins. Fluorinated chains confer to surfactants a powerful driving force for collecting and organizing at interfaces. As compared to non-fluorinated analogs, fluorosurfactants have also a much stronger capacity to self-aggregate into discrete molecular assemblies when dispersed in water and other solvents. Even very short, single-chain fluorinated amphiphiles can form highly stable, heat-sterilizable vesicles, without the need for supplementary associative interactions. Sturdy microtubules were obtained from non-chiral, non-hydrogen bonding single-chain fluorosurfactants. Fluorinated amphiphiles can be used to engineer a variety of colloidal systems and manipulate their morphology, structure and properties. Stable fluorinated films, membranes and vesicles can also be prepared from combinations of standard surfactants with fluorocarbon/hydrocarbon diblock molecules. In bilayer membranes made from fluorinated amphiphiles the fluorinated tails segregate to form an internal teflon-like hydrophobic and lipophobic film that increases the stability of the membrane and reduces its permeability. This fluorinated film can also influence the behavior of fluorinated vesicles in a biological milieu. For example, it can affect the in vivo recognition and fate of particles, or the enzymatic hydrolysis of phospholipid components. Major applications of fluorocarbons currently in advanced clinical trials include injectable emulsions for delivering oxygen to tissues at risk of hypoxia; a neat fluorocarbon for treatment of acute respiratory failure by liquid ventilation; and gaseous fluorocarbon-stabilized microbubbles for use as contrast agents for ultrasound imaging. Fluorosurfactants also allow the preparation of a range of stable direct and reverse emulsions, microemulsions, multiple emulsions, and gels, some of which may include fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon and aqueous phases simultaneously. Highly fluorinated systems have potential for the delivery of drugs, prodrugs, vaccines, genes, markers, contrast agents and other materials.