The Origin of Time-Resolved Emission Spectra (TRES) Changes of 4-Aminophthalimide (4-AP) in SDS Micelles. The Role of the Hydrogen Bond between 4-AP and Water Present in Micelles

Role of Different States of Solubilized Water on Solvation Dynamics and Rotational Relaxation of Coumarin 490 in Reverse Micelles of Gemini Surfactants, Water/12-s-12.2Br- (s = 5, 6, 8)/n-Propanol/Cyclohexane

The present study demonstrates how the different states of solubilized water viz. quaternary ammonium headgroup-bound, bulklike, counterion-bound, and free water in reverse micelles of a series of cationic gemini surfactants, water/12-s-12 (s = 5, 6, 8).2Br^-/n-propanol/cyclohexane, control the solvation dynamics and rotational relaxation of Coumarin 490 (C-490) and microenvironment of the reverse micelles. The relative number of solubilized water molecules of a given state per surfactant molecule decides major and minor components. A rapid increase in the number of bulklike water molecules per surfactant molecule as compared to the slow increase in the number of each of headgroup- and counterion-bound water molecules per surfactant molecule with increasing water content (W _o) in a given reverse micellar system is responsible for the increase in the rate of solvation and rotational relaxation of C-490. The increase in the number of counterion-bound water molecules per surfactant molecule and the concomitant decrease in the number of bulklike water molecules per surfactant molecule with increasing spacer chain length of gemini surfactants at a given W _o are ascribed to the slower rates of both solvation and rotational relaxation. Relative abundances of different states of water have a role on the microenvironment of the reverse micelles as well. Thus, a comprehensive effect of different states of water on dynamics in complex biomimicking systems has been presented here.

Structural Characterization of Biocompatible Reverse Micelles Using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering, 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The most critical problem regarding the use of reverse micelles (RMs) in several fields is the toxicity of their partial components. In this sense, many efforts have been made to characterize nontoxic RM formulations on the basis of biological amphiphiles and/or different oils. In this contribution, the microstructure of biocompatible mixed RMs formulated by sodium 1,4-bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT) and tri- n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) surfactants dispersed in the friendly solvent methyl laurate was studied by using SAXS and ³¹P NMR and by following the solvatochromic behavior of the molecular probe 4-aminophthalimide (4-AP). The results indicated the presence of RM aggregates upon TOPO incorporation with a droplet size reduction and an increase in the interfacial fluidity in comparison with pure AOT RMs. When confined inside the mixed systems, 4-AP showed a red-edge excitation shift and confirmed the increment of interfacial fluidity upon TOPO addition. Also, the partition between the external nonpolar solvent and the RM interface and an increase in both the local micropolarity and the capability to form a hydrogen bond interaction between 4-AP and a mixed interface were observed. The findings have been explained in terms of the nonionic surfactant structure and its complexing nature expressed at the interfacial level. Notably, we show how two different approaches, i.e., SAXS and the solvatochromism of the probe 4-AP, can be used in a complementary way to enhance our understanding of the interfacial fluidity of RMs, a parameter that is difficult to measure directly.

Fluorescence Behavior of Schiff Base-N, N'-bis(salicylidene) Trans 1, 2-Diaminocyclohexane in Proteinous and Micellar Environments

Fluorescence properties of N, N'-bis(salicylidene) trans 1, 2-diaminocyclohexane (H ₂ L) is used to probe the anionic (SDS), cationic (CTAB) and nonionic (TX-100) micelles as well as in serum albumins (BSA and HSA) and chicken egg white lysozyme (LYZ) by steady state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence band intensity was found to increase with concomitant blue-shift with gradual addition of different surfactants. All the experimental results suggest that the probe molecule resides in the micelle-water interface rather than going into the micellar core. However, the penetration is more towards the micellar hydrocarbon core in nonionic surfactant (TX-100) while comparing with ionic surfactants (SDS and CTAB). Several mean microscopic properties such as critical micelle concentration, polarity parameters and binding constant were calculated in presence of different surfactants. The decrease in nonradiative decay rate constants in micellar environments indicates restricted motion of the probe inside the micellar nanocages with increasing fluorescence emission intensity and quantum yields. Further in this work, we also investigated the interaction behavior of the probe with different proteins at low concentrations under physiological conditions (pH = 7.4). Stern-Volmer analysis of the tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence quenching data in presence of probe reveals Stern-Volmer constant (K_sv) as well as bimolecular quenching rate constant (K_q). The binding constant as well as the number of binding sites of the probe with proteins were also monitored and found to be 1:1 stoichiometry ratio.

Solvation dynamics and rotational relaxation of coumarin 153 in mixed micelles of Triton X-100 and cationic gemini surfactants: effect of composition and spacer chain length of gemini surfactants

To demonstrate simultaneously how the solvation dynamics and rotational relaxation in nonionic micelles change with the composition of a gemini surfactant and how this change depends on spacer chain length of gemini surfactants.

Solvation Dynamics in Different Phases of the Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline System

Reverse hexagonal (HII) liquid crystalline material based on glycerol monooleate (GMO) is considered as a potential carrier for drugs and other important biomolecules due to its thermotropic phase change and excellent morphology. In this work, the dynamics of encapsulated water, which plays important role in stabilization and formation of reverse hexagonal mesophase, has been investigated by time dependent Stokes shift method using Coumarin-343 as a solvation probe. The formation of the reverse hexagonal mesophase (HII) and transformation to the L2 phase have been monitored using small-angle X-ray scattering and polarized light microscopy experiments. REES studies suggest the existence of different polar regions in both HII and L2 systems. The solvation dynamics study inside the reverse hexagonal (HII) phase reveals the existence of two different types of water molecules exhibiting dynamics on a 120-900 ps time scale. The estimated diffusion coefficients of both types of water molecules obtained from the observed dynamics are in good agreement with the measured diffusion coefficient collected from the NMR study. The calculated activation energy is found to be 2.05 kcal/mol, which is associated with coupled rotational-translational water relaxation dynamics upon the transition from "bound" to "quasi-free" state. The observed ∼2 ns faster dynamics of the L2 phase compared to the HII phase may be associated with both the phase transformation as well as thermotropic effect on the relaxation process. Microviscosities calculated from time-resolved anisotropy studies infer that the interface is almost ∼22 times higher viscous than the central part of the cylinder. Overall, our results reveal the unique dynamical features of water inside the cylinder of reverse hexagonal and inverse micellar phases.

Effect of Polymethylene Spacer of Cationic Gemini Surfactants on Solvation Dynamics and Rotational Relaxation of Coumarin 153 in Aqueous Micelles

The present work demonstrates the solvation dynamics and rotational relaxation of Coumarin 153 (C-153) in the micelles of a series of cationic gemini surfactants, 12-s-12, 2Br(-) containing a hydrophobic polymethylene spacer with s = 3, 4, 6, 8, 12. Steady-state and time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) fluorescence spectroscopic techniques have been used to carry out this study. Steady-state and TCSPC fluorescence data suggest that C-153 molecules are located at the Stern layer of micelles. While probe molecules feel more or less the same micropolarity in the micellar phase, the microviscosity of micelles decreases with spacer chain length. Solvation dynamics at the Stern layer is bimodal in nature with fast solvation as a major component. Counter ions and water molecules bonded with the polar headgroups of surfactant molecules are responsible for the slow component. Average solvation time increases with spacer chain length because of the increased degree of counter ion dissociation. Some water molecules are involved in the solvation of counter ions themselves, resulting in the decrease in "free" water molecules to be available for the solvation of C-153. The hydrophobic spacer chain also has an effect on increasing the solvation time with increasing chain length. The average rotational relaxation time for C-153 decreases with spacer chain length with a rapid decrease at s > 4. The anisotropy decay of C-153 in micelles is biexponential in nature. The slow rotational relaxation is due to the lateral diffusion of C-153 in micelles. Lateral diffusion is much faster than the rotational motion of a micelle as a whole. The rotational motion of the micelle as a whole becomes faster with the decreasing size of micelles.

Fluorescence properties of Schiff base - N,N'-bis(salicylidene) - 1,2-Phenylenediamine in presence of bile acid host

Fluorescence properties of Schiff base - N,N'-bis(salicylidene) - 1,2-phenylenediamine (LH2) is used to study the micelles formed by aggregation of different important bile acids like cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and glycocholic acid by steady state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence band intensity was found out to increase with concomitant red shift with gradual addition of different bile acids. Binding constant of the probe with different bile acids as well as critical micelle concentration was obtained from the variation of fluorescence intensity on increasing concentration of bile acids in the medium. The increase in fluorescence quantum yields, fluorescence decay times and substantial decrease in nonradiative decay rate constants in bile acids micellar environment points to the restricted motion of the fluorophore inside the micellar subdomains.

Modulation of the 4-aminophthalimide spectral properties by hydrogen bonds in water

TD-DFT and DFT calculations have been performed to examine the relationship between the spectral shifts of 4-aminophthalimide (4AP) and the formation of hydrogen bonds in water solution. The computations of the S0 state are at the IEFPCM-B3LYP/6-311++G(d, p) level and the S1 state at the TD-IEFPCM-B3LYP/6-311++G(d, p) level. The eleven structures of the hydrogen-bonded 4AP clusters formed with different number water molecules in both S0 and S1 states were optimized. The absorption, fluorescence and infrared spectra were calculated. The results of the hydrogen bond energy and length reveals that the hydrogen bonds formed by the nitrogen atom of the amine group with water molecule (A type) are significantly weakened from states S0 to S1. In contrast, the hydrogen bonds formed by the oxygen atoms of the two carbonyl groups (B type) with water molecules and those formed by the two hydrogen atoms of the amine group (C type) with water molecules are remarkably strengthened. Comparing with the 4AP monomer spectra, the weakening for the hydrogen bond of A type could be responsible for the blueshifts of the electronic absorption spectra and the stretching vibrational spectra of the two NH groups in 4AP from states S0 to S1. The significant redshifts of the electronic spectra and the S0-S1 downshifts of the stretching vibrational modes of the two NH groups and the two carbonyl groups in 4AP could be attributed to the strengthening of hydrogen bonds for B and C types.

Heterogeneity of fluorescence determined by the method of area-normalized time-resolved emission spectroscopy

Heterogeneity of fluorescence due to multiple fluorophores or emitter species is a common problem in using fluorescent molecules to probe the structure, dynamics, and properties of microheterogeneous media (micelles, membranes, proteins, etc.) and biological media. Time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) and area-normalized TRES (TRANES) are useful to identify unambiguously emission from a single species (homogeneity) and emission from two species (dual emission). The features in TRANES spectra that are characteristic of solvation dynamics associated with single species and two species, and many other cases are also described.

Novel organic materials through control of multichromophore interactions

The function of organic semiconducting and light-harvesting materials depends on the organization of the individual molecular components. Our group has tackled the problem of through-space delocalization via the design and synthesis of bichromphoric pairs held in close proximity by the [2.2]paracyclophane core. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of these molecules provide a challenge to theory. They are also useful in delineating the problem of intermolecular contacts in molecular conductivity measurements. Another area of research described here concerns conjugated polyelectrolytes. These macromolecules combine the properties of organic semiconductors and conventional polyelectrolytes. We have used these materials in the development of optically amplified biosensors and have also incorporated them into organic optoelectronic devices. Of particular interest to us is to derive useful structure/property relationships via molecular design that address important basic scientific problems and technological challenges.

Excited-state proton transfer of 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole in microemulsions: selective enhancement and slow dynamics in aerosol OT reverse micelles with an aqueous core

Excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) of 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole (2PBI) in reverse micelles has been studied by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The nanometer sized water pool in the n-heptane/Aerosol OT (AOT)/water microemulsion is found to promote tautomer emission of this probe, as is evident from the emergence of a Stokes shifted band at 450 nm at the expense of the normal emission band on increasing the water content of the system. In the nonaquous microemulsion with a methanol core, the normal emission is quenched but no tautomer emission is obtained. With an acetonitrile core, there is no change in emission properties. Similarly, there is no evidence of ESPT in Triton X-100 reverse micelles. This indicates the requirement of ESPT to occur in microheterogeneous media; the medium should be a ternary system comprised of water and a hydrophobic phase separated by a negatively charged interface. In the microemulsions with an aqueous core, the fluorescence decays of 2PBI at the red end exhibit rise times of 0.8 ns and the time-resolved area-normalized emission spectra (TRANES) exhibit an isoemissive point, indicating slow dynamics of the two-state ESPT of 2PBI in aqueous AOT reverse micelles. The origin of the selective enhancement in AOT microemulsions as well as the slow dynamics is explored using fluorescence spectroscopic techniques, with support from quantum chemical calculation.

Fluorescence behavior of intramolecular charge transfer probe in anionic, cationic, and nonionic micelles

The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) property of trans-ethyl p-(dimethylamino) cinnamate is used to probe the anionic, cationic, and nonionic micelles by steady-state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The ICT fluorescence band intensity was found to increase with concomitant blue shift with addition of surfactants. All the experimental results suggest that the probe molecule resides in the micelle-water interface rather than going into the core. However, the penetration is more toward the micellar core in nonionic surfactants when compared with ionic micelles. The decrease in nonradiative decay constants in micellar environments indicate restricted motion of the probe toward the formation of ICT state. Critical micelle concentrations were determined from the sharp change in fluorescence intensity and effective dielectric constants of the micelle-water interface were calculated from the correlation diagram of 0,0 transition energy with polarity of the medium.

Different sources of 4-aminophthalimide solvation dynamics retardation inside micellar systems

The solvation dynamics of 4-aminophthalimide (4-AP) in two micellar systems (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (M-CTAB) and Triton X-100 (M-TX-100)) has been studied. The results presented are in agreement with our earlier findings in sodium dodecyl sulfate (M-SDS) micelle (J. Phys. Chem. B 107 (2003) 13,986, J. Phys. Chem. B 109 (2005) 9422). They have confirmed that the main reason for the observed shape and position of the time changes in 4-AP time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) is the process of establishing a new equilibrium between two emissive species present in micellar systems, the excited 4-AP in the intramolecular charge transfer state (S(1)-ICT) and the exciplex formed between 4-AP in the S1-ICT state and water molecules dissolved inside micelles. In M-TX-100 and in M-CTAB this process has been found to be slower than in the earlier studied M-SDS. The presence of two emitting species has been concluded on the basis of observation of the isoemissive point in the time-resolved area-normalized emission spectra (TRANES) of 4-AP in micellar systems studied. It has been shown that the distance between the 4-AP molecule and the water molecules present inside the micelles can be one of the parameters responsible for the long-time duration of the exciplex formation and solvation process in the micelles.

Regulation of the Extent and Dynamics of Excited-State Proton Transfer in 2-(2‘-Pyridyl)benzimidazole in Nafion Membranes by Cation Exchange

The effect of the microenvironment of a Nafion membrane on the excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) of 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole (2PBI) has been investigated by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The mechanism of the ESPT is found to depend remarkably on the water content of the membrane. In the protonated form of the membrane, ESPT is found to involve the dicationic (D) form of the fluorophore, whereas in cation-exchanged membranes, it is found to involve the monocation (C). The change in the mechanism and extent of ESPT in cation-exchanged membranes can be explained by considering dehydration of the membrane as well as the less acidic environment around the 2PBI molecules. The slow dynamics is found to result from two factors, namely, slow and incomplete solvation of the transition state, leading to a slowing down of the proton-transfer process, and a slow solvation of the polar tautomeric excited state.

Two-Photon Absorption in Aqueous Micellar Solutions

Addition of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration increases the fluorescence quantum yield and the two-photon absorption cross-section of charged [2.2]paracyclophane chromophores containing pairs of D-pi-D chromophores. The resulting spectra in the micellar solutions are very similar to those obtained for neutral isostructural analogues in toluene. The measured etadelta values are 1300 GM for 1C and 1920 GM for 2C, which are comparable or larger to those in toluene. These results highlight possible misleading interpretation of two-photon-induced emission for evaluating the concentration of labeled substrates used in two-photon microscopy and provide guidelines for designing molecular structures with optimized two-photon action cross-sections in water.

ESPT of 2-(2‘-Pyridyl)benzimidazole at the Micelle−Water Interface: Selective Enhancement and Slow Dynamics with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

The effect of micellar environment on the excited state proton transfer (ESPT) of 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole (2PBI) has been investigated by steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The ESPT, which occurs to a rather small extent at pH 7, is found to be enhanced remarkably at the interface of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles and water. Such an enhancement is not observed for the cationic cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) or neutral Triton X-100 micelles. This selective enhancement is explained in the light of a modification of pK(a) and a more acidic local pH in the micelle-water interface. A rise time of about 890 ps is observed in the region of tautomer emission. The origin of this rise time is explored, considering three factors, namely, diffusion controlled protonation of the normal form of 2PBI, slow and possibly incomplete solvation of the transition state, leading to a slowing down of the proton transfer process and a similar slow dynamics of the tautomeric excited state.

Shape and Position of 4-Aminophthalimide (4-AP) Time-Resolved Emission Spectra (TRES) versus Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate SDS Concentration in Micellar Solutions: The Partitioning of 4-AP in the Micellar Phase and in Water Surrounding the Micelles

Time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) of 4-aminophthalimide (4-AP) dissolved in water solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) for three surfactant concentrations (0.05, 0.15, and 0.45 M) have been determined. The fraction of 4-AP dissolved in the water phase surrounding the micelles has been shown to increase with decreasing concentration of the surfactant. To obtain TRES of 4-AP present exclusively in micelles, a method of subtraction of the contribution of the emission originating from 4-AP present in the water phase surrounding the micelles from the total emission of the probe dissolved in SDS solution has been proposed. The consequences of failing to take into account the partitioning of 4-AP between the water and micellar phases are illustrated by some exemplary TRES results, taken before and after the subtraction of the emission originating from 4-AP present in the water phase. Together with the time of appearance and presence of isoemissive points in the time-resolved area-normalized emission spectra (TRANES), these results have shown a clear dependence of the rate and character of the 4-AP TRES changes on the SDS concentration. In connection with our earlier results and literature data, it has been concluded that the concentration of the water solubilized in micelles is the main factor determining the rate and character of these changes.