Destruction of perfluoroalkyl surfactant aggregates by β-cyclodextrin

Synthesis of Two Anionic Gemini Surfactants and Their Self-Assembly Induced by the Complexation of Calixpyridinium

The information in the literature concerned with lowering the critical aggregation concentration of anionic surfactants by macrocyclic compounds is scarce. This research develops an effective route for lowering the critical aggregation concentration of anionic gemini surfactants by the complexation of calixpyridinium. Furthermore, the size of complex self-assembled nanostructures can be well controlled by the different mixing ratio of the host and the guest.

The formation of host-guest complexes between surfactants and cyclodextrins

Cyclodextrins are able to act as host molecules in supramolecular chemistry with applications ranging from pharmaceutics to detergency. Among guest molecules surfactants play an important role with both fundamental and practical applications. The formation of cyclodextrin/surfactant host-guest compounds leads to an increase in the critical micelle concentration and in the solubility of surfactants. The possibility of changing the balance between several intermolecular forces, and thus allowing the study of, e.g., dehydration and steric hindrance effects upon association, makes surfactants ideal guest molecules for fundamental studies. Therefore, these systems allow for obtaining a deep insight into the host-guest association mechanism. In this paper, we review the influence on the thermodynamic properties of CD-surfactant association by highlighting the effect of different surfactant architectures (single tail, double-tailed, gemini and bolaform), with special emphasis on cationic surfactants. This is complemented with an assessment of the most common analytical techniques used to follow the association process. The applied methods for computation of the association stoichiometry and stability constants are also reviewed and discussed; this is an important point since there are significant discrepancies and scattered data for similar systems in the literature. In general, the surfactant-cyclodextrin association is treated without reference to the kinetics of the process. However, there are several examples where the kinetics of the process can be investigated, in particular those where volumes of the CD cavity and surfactant (either the tail or in special cases the head group) are similar in magnitude. This will also be critically reviewed.

Characterization and dynamic properties for the solid inclusion complexes of β-cyclodextrin and perfluorooctanoic acid

The structural characterization and dynamic properties of solid-state inclusion complexes (ICs) formed between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD; host) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; guest) were investigated using (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The 1:1 and 2:1 host/guest solid-state complexes were prepared using a modified dissolution method to obtain complexes with high phase purity. These complexes were further characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FT-IR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), (19)F directpolarization (DP), and (13)C cross-polarization (CP) with magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The (19)F → (13)C CP results provided unequivocal support for the formation of well-defined inclusion compounds. The phase purity of the complexes formed between β-CD and PFOA were assessed using the (19)F DP NMR technique at variable temperature (VT) and MAS at 20 kHz. The complexes were found to be of high phase purity when prepared in accordance with the modified dissolution method. The motional dynamics of the guest in the solid complexes were assessed using T1/T2/T1ρ relaxation NMR methods at ambient and VT conditions. The relaxation data revealed reliable and variable guest dynamics for the 1:1 versus 2:1 complexes at the VTs investigated. The motional dynamics of the guest molecules involve an ensemble of axial motions of the whole chain and 120° rotational jumps of the methyl (CF3) group at the termini of the perfluorocarbon chain. The axial and rotational dynamics of the guest in the 1:1 and 2:1 complexes differ in distribution and magnitude in accordance with the binding geometry of the guest within the host.

Novel Gd(III)-based probes for MR molecular imaging of matrix metalloproteinases

Two novel Gd-based contrast agents (CAs) for the molecular imaging of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were synthetized and characterized in vitro and in vivo. These probes were based on the PLG*LWAR peptide sequence, known to be hydrolyzed between Gly and Leu by a broad panel of MMPs. A Gd-DOTA chelate was conjugated to the N-terminal position through an amide bond, either directly to proline (compd Gd-K11) or through a hydrophilic spacer (compd Gd-K11N). Both CA were made strongly amphiphilic by conjugating an alkyl chain at the C-terminus of the peptide sequence. Gd-K11 and Gd-K11N have a good affinity for β-cyclodextrins (K(D) 310 and 670 µ m respectively) and for serum albumin (K(D) 350 and 90 µ m respectively), and can be efficiently cleaved in vitro at the expected site by MMP-2 and MMP-12. Upon MMP-dependent cleavage, the CAs lose the C-terminal tetrapeptide and the alkyl chain, thus undergoing to an amphiphilic-to-hydrophilic transformation that is expected to alter tissue pharmacokinetics. To prove this, Gd-K11 was systemically administered to mice bearing a subcutaneous B16.F10 melanoma, either pre-treated or not with the broad spectrum MMP inhibitor GM6001 (Ilomastat). The washout of the Gd-contrast enhancement in MR images was significantly faster for untreated subjects (displaying MMP activity) with respect to treated ones (MMP activity inhibited). The washout kinetics of Gd-contrast enhancement from the tumor microenvironment could be then interpreted in terms of the local activity of MMPs.

Synthesis of 3,3,3-trifluoropropene telomers and their modification into fluorosurfactants

Original fluorinated surfactants based on 3,3,3-trifluoropropene as alternatives to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were prepared and characterized.

Versatility of cyclodextrins in self-assembly systems of amphiphiles

Recently, cyclodextrins (CDs) were found to play important yet complicated (or even apparently opposite sometimes) roles in self-assembly systems of amphiphiles or surfactants. Herein, we try to review and clarify the versatility of CDs in surfactant assembly systems by 1) classifying the roles played by CDs into two groups (modulator and building unit) and four subgroups (destructive and constructive modulators, amphiphilic and unamphiphilic building units), 2) comparing these subgroups, and 3) analyzing mechanisms. As a modulator, although CDs by themselves do not participate into the final surfactant aggregates, they can greatly affect the aggregates in two ways. In most cases CDs will destroy the aggregates by depleting surfactant molecules from the aggregates (destructive), or in certain cases CDs can promote the aggregates to grow by selectively removing the less-aggregatable surfactant molecules from the aggregates (constructive). As an amphiphilic building unit, CDs can be chemically (by chemical bonds) or physically (by host-guest interaction) attached to a hydrophobic moiety, and the resultant compounds act as classic amphiphiles. As an unamphiphilic building unit, CD/surfactant complexes or even CDs on their own can assemble into aggregates in an unconventional, unamphiphilic manner driven by CD-CD H-bonds. Moreover, special emphasis is put on two recently appeared aspects: the constructive modulator and unamphiphilic building unit.

Cyclodextrin-Surfactant Mixed Systems as Reaction Media

In recent years our reseach group has investigated the chemical behaviour of β-cyclodextrin (CD)/surfactant mixed systems and their characteristics as reaction media. The results have been interpreted in terms of a pseudophase model that takes into account the formation of both CD-surfactant and CD-substrate complexes and also, in some cases, the exchange of X- and OH- ions between the micellar and aqueous pseudophases. from the experimental results it was concluded that the presence of CD has no effect on existing micelles but raises the critical micellar concentration (cmc). on the other hand, at surfactant concentrations above the cmc, competition between the micellisation and complexation processes leads to the existence of a significant concentration of free CD in equilibrium with the micellar aggregates. The percentage of uncomplexed β-CD in equilibrium with the micellar system increases on increasing the hydrophobicity of the surfactant molecule. This behaviour was justified taking into account the existence of two simultaneous processes: complexation of surfactant monomers by CD and the process of self-assembly to form micellar aggregates. The autoaggregation of surfactant monomers is more important than the complexation process in this mixed system. Varying the hydrophobicity of the surfactant monomer enabled us to determine that the percentages of uncomplexed CD in equilibrium with the micellar system were in the range of 5-95%. When the surfactant self-assembly structure is a vesicle, the free CD in the CD/surfactant mixed system yields a percentage of 100%.

Demicellization of a mixture of cationic-anionic hydrogenated/fluorinated surfactants through selective inclusion by alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin

The interactions between alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin (alpha-/beta-CD) and an equimolar mixture of octyltriethylammonium bromide (OTEAB) and sodium perfluorooctanoate (SPFO) were studied by 1H and 19F NMR, surface tension, conductivity, and dynamic light scattering. It was shown that beta-CD could destroy the mixed micelles of OTEAB-SPFO by selective inclusion of SPFO. As beta-CD was added, the system was observed to undergo a process like this: beta-CD preferentially included SPFO to form 1:1 beta-CD/SPFO complexes. As the inclusion of SPFO was almost saturated, the mixed micelles broke and all OTEAB was released and exposed to aqueous surroundings. Then 1:1 beta-CD/OTEAB and 2:1 beta-CD/SPFO complexes significantly formed simultaneously. Contrary to beta-CD, alpha-CD exhibited selective inclusion to OTEAB and only weak association with SPFO. alpha-CD could also destroy the mixed micelles of OTEAB-SPFO; however, the demicellization ability of alpha-CD is much smaller than that of beta-CD. These conclusions were also well supported by the calculations of binding constants and DeltaG degrees . Different from the complexes of CD/conventional surfactants, the complexes of beta-CD/SPFO or alpha-CD/OTEAB formed by selective inclusion of CD in the mixed cationic-anionic surfactants may have contributed to the surface activity of the aqueous mixtures. The complexes of alpha-CD/OTEAB showed much more significant contribution to the surface activity than that of the complexes of beta-CD/SPFO.

Complexation and Chiral Drug Recognition of an Amphiphilic Phenothiazine Derivative with β‐Cyclodextrin

Promethazine hydrochloride (PTZ) is an amphiphilic drug derived from the phenothiazine structure that possesses a charged aliphatic chain with a chiral carbon. In the presence of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), this drug undergoes significant changes of its photophysical properties in aqueous solution. Fluorescence spectroscopy measurements show the formation of a 1:1 stoichiometry complex with quantum yield lower than that of the pure PTZ, and two fluorescence lifetimes, which can be assigned to the free and complexed forms of the drug. In addition, (1)H NMR spectra, and 2D rotating-frame Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (ROESY) were used to characterize the drug and the complex, and to determine the effects of the complexation on the aggregation. For the drug binary system, a noncooperative association process is observed, and in the presence of macrocycle, the chemical shifts reveal a chiral resolution of the drug enantiomers, with different stability constants of the complexes. beta-CD modifies the aggregation of PTZ in an extension that confirms the formation of a 1:1 complex. ROE enhancements and molecular modeling strategies show the most likely structure of the complex in solution, in which one of the phenyl rings is buried into the CD cavity, with a slight inclusion of the aliphatic part.

NMR Studies on Selectivity of β-Cyclodextrin to Fluorinated/Hydrogenated Surfactant Mixtures

The interactions between beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and the equimolar/nonequimolar mixtures of sodium perfluorooctanoate (C(7)F(15)COONa, SPFO) and sodium alkyl sulfate (C(n)H(2n+1)SO(4)Na, C(n)SO(4), n = 8, 10, 12) were investigated by 1H and 19F NMR. It showed that beta-CD preferentially included the fluorinated surfactant when exposed to mixtures of hydrogenated (C(n)SO(4)) and fluorinated (SPFO) surfactants, notwithstanding whether the hydrogenated surfactant C(n)SO(4) was more or less hydrophobic than the SPFO. Such preferential inclusion of the fluorinated surfactant continued to a certain concentration of beta-CD at which time the C(n)SO(4) was then observed to be included. The longer the hydrocarbon chain of C(n)SO(4) the lower the concentration of beta-CD at which the hydrogenated surfactants began to show inclusion. The inclusion process can be qualitatively divided into three stages: first, formation of 1:1 beta-CD/SPFO complexes; second, formation of 1:1 beta-CD/C(n)SO(4) complexes; and finally, formation of 2:1 beta-CD/SPFO complexes upon further increase of beta-CD concentration. In the concentration range studied, during the last stage of inclusion both 2:1 beta-CD/C(12)SO(4) and 2:1 beta-CD/SPFO complexes appear to be simultaneously formed in the system of beta-CD/SPFO/C(12)SO(4) but not in either the systems of beta-CD/SPFO/C(8)SO(4) or beta-CD/SPFO/C(10)SO(4). The selective inclusion of the shorter fluorocarbon chain surfactant might be attributed to the greater rigidity and size of the fluorocarbon chains, compared to those of the hydrocarbon chains, which provide for a tighter fit and better interaction between the host and guest. This latter effect appears to dominate the increase in hydrophobic character as the carbon chain length increases in the hydrogenated series.

Use of Spectra Resolution Methodology to Investigate Surfactant/β-Cyclodextrin Mixed Systems

A study of the spectral behavior of crystal violet in mixed systems formed by hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl) and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) has been carried out. The spectra resolution methodology was used to decompose the absorption spectra of crystal violet in the sum of constituent sub-bands centered at 17,953, 16,807, and 16,474 cm(-1). The sub-bands centered at upsilon = 17,953 and 16,807 cm(-1) correspond to planar and pyramidal isomers of the dye in water and the same isomers associated with the cyclodextrin and micelle. The sub-band centered at upsilon = 16,474 cm(-1) is due to the formation of an inclusion complex between the dye and the cyclodextrin, where solvation of the carbocation takes place through the hydroxyl groups of the cyclodextrin and the association of the crystal violet to micelles of CTACl through the formation of ion pairs in the Stern layer. The results obtained in the mixed systems are compatible with the results obtained in the previously studied simple systems, thus supporting the situation where interactions do not exist between cyclodextrins and micelles once these have formed.

Competing Supramolecular Assembly of Amphiphiles to Form Micelles or Pseudorotaxanes

[reaction: see text] Micelles of an amphiphile that encapsulate the added dye in water can be released, upon addition of alpha-CD, to form pseudorotaxane. The equilibrium between the micelles and the pseudorotaxanes and the absorption spectra of solution are controlled by temperature reversibly.

Inclusion Complexes between β-Cyclodextrin and a Gemini Surfactant in Aqueous Solution: An NMR Study

(1)H NMR spectra, diffusion-ordered NMR (DOSY), and 2D rotating-frame Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (ROESY) experiments for aqueous solutions at 298 K containing the gemini surfactant, bis (dodecyl dimethylammonium)diethyl ether dibromide (12-EO(1)-12), in the absence and presence of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) were used to characterize the surfactant and to determine the effects of the complexation in the micellization. For the binary system, the critical micelle concentration (cmc), the aggregation number, the stepwise micellization constant, and the size of the monomer have been obtained by studying the dependence of the chemical shifts and the self-diffusion coefficients with the concentration of surfactant. For the ternary system, the analysis of the (1)H NMR spectra and the self-diffusion coefficients reveal the formation of complexes of 1:1 and 2:1 stoichiometry (beta-CD:gemini), with a calculated stability constant for the second binding step higher than that of the first. The values of the hydrodynamic radii of the complexes were obtained from the calculated diffusion coefficients. The presence of beta-CD modifies the cmc in an extension that indicates mainly the formation of a 2:1 complex. The analysis of the chemical shifts of the surfactant indicates the nonparticipation of the complexes into the micelles. ROE enhancements depend substantially on the amount of the macrocycle added and therefore on the stoichiometry; at low concentrations of beta-CD, one of the hydrocarbon chains binds favorably with the cavity whereas the other interacts with the outer face. By contrast, at higher concentrations of beta-CD, the two hydrocarbon tails are included in two different macrocycles.