Surfactant Aggregates (surfactant + aggregate)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Application of molecular dynamics computer simulations in the design of a minimal self-replicating molecular machine,

COMPLEXITY, Issue 4 2008

Abstract It is commonly agreed that a chemical assembly of molecules can be considered alive if it can ingest resources and convert them into building blocks; has the ability to grow and self-reproduce; and can evolve. In the design proposed by Rasmussen and Chen (Science 2004, 303, 963) the assembly or protocell could be as simple as a small micellar surfactant aggregate acting as a container, anchoring an informational molecule to its exterior and incorporating a metabolism within the oily interior. We present several examples of modeling such a system with molecular dynamics computer simulations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2008. [source]


Compositional effects on electrophoretic and chromatographic figures of merit in electrokinetic chromatography with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide/sodium octyl sulfate vesicles as the pseudostationary phase.

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 5 2008
Part 1: Effect of the phase ratio
Abstract The effect of the phase ratio on the electrophoretic and chromatographic properties of unilamellar vesicles comprised of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium octyl sulfate (SOS) was investigated in EKC. The surfactant concentration of the vesicles was 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8% w/v, with a mole ratio of 1:3.66 (CTAB/SOS). Results were compared to those obtained using SDS micelles at concentrations of 1.0% (w/v, 35,mM) and 1.5% (52,mM). The CTAB/SOS vesicles (0.9,1.8% w/v) provided a significantly larger elution range (5.7,,,tves/t0,,,8.7) and greater hydrophobic (methylene) selectivity (2.8,,,,CH2,,,3.1) than SDS micelles (3.1,,,tmc/t0,,,3.3; ,CH2,=,2.2). Whereas the larger elution range can be attributed to the 25% reduction in EOF due to the interaction of unaggregated CTAB cations and the negatively charged capillary wall, the higher methylene selectivity is likely due to the lower concentration of water expected in the CTAB/SOS vesicle bilayer compared to the Palisades layer of SDS micelles. For a given phase ratio, CTAB/SOS vesicles are somewhat less retentive than SDS micelles, although retention factors comparable to those observed in 1.0,1.5% SDS can be obtained with 1.5,1.8% CTAB/SOS. A linear relationship was observed between phase ratio and retention factor, confirming the validity of the phase ratio model for these vesicles. Unique polar group selectivities and positional isomer shape selectivities were obtained with CTAB/SOS vesicles, with both types of selectivities being nearly independent of the phase ratio. For four sets of positional isomers, the elution order was always para < ortho < meta. Finally, the thermodynamics of solute retention was qualitatively similar to that reported for other surfactant aggregates (micelles and microemulsions); the enthalpic contribution to retention was consistently favorable for all compounds, whereas the entropic contribution was favorable only to hydrophobic solutes. [source]


Structural effects of macrocyclic compounds and their partition in sodium dodecylsulphate aqueous solutions

JOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 3-1 2003
Delia Chillura-Martino
The partition of 1,4,7,10,13,16-esaoxacyclooctadecane (18C6), 4,7,13,16-tetraoxa-1,10-diazacyclooctadecane (2.2), 2,5,8,11,14,17-esaoxabicyclo[16.4.0]dicosane (B18C6) and 2,5,8,15,18,21-esoxatricyclo[20.4.0.09.14]esacosane (Cy218C6) in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous solutions and their effect on the structure of surfactant aggregates has been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering. Results from data analysis have shown that by increasing macrocycle concentration the SDS micelles dimensions reduce for all systems investigated. At the same time information on macrocycles partition between the micellar and the continuous phase have been obtained. It was found that an appreciable portion of macrocyclic compounds is located in micellar aggregates; in particular, the amount of B18C6 and Cy218C6 results larger than that of 18C6 and 2.2. It was found that 18C6 and 2.2 molecules interact with charged surface of SDS micelles only via complexes formation between the sodium ions and the macrocycles. B18C6 and Cy218C6 interact either via complexes formation with the charged surface or with hydrophobic region inside the micelle, as a consequence of the presence of hydrophobic substituents. It was concluded that Cy218C6 fraction present inside the micelles is located in the core, while the B18C6 fraction is located in the palisade. [source]


Controlled drug release from gels using surfactant aggregates: I. Effect of lipophilic interactions for a series of uncharged substances

JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 9 2001
Mattias Paulsson
Abstract Gels are often used for the delivery of drugs because they have rheological properties that will give a long residence time. Most pharmaceutical gels consist of ,99% water and a polymer matrix that will not hinder the release of drugs with a small molecular weight. To fully take advantage of the residence time, it is necessary to have a sustained drug release. In this paper it is suggested that surfactant micelles can be used to control the release from gels. The in vitro release under physiological conditions of five parabens from four different poly(acrylic acid) gels (Carbopol 934, 940, 1342) and one gellan gum (Gelrite) gel was measured using a USP dissolution bath modified for gels, and the diffusion coefficients were calculated. The diffusion coefficient of uncharged parabens was generally lower in gels with lipophilic modifications, such as C1342, and the greatest effect was seen for butylparaben, with a diffusion that was 25% lower than that in C934 (lacking lipophilic modification). Addition of surfactant micelles to gels delayed the release of all the uncharged drugs in all types of gels studied. The slowest release was seen for butylparaben in a lipophilically modified gel with micelles present. The diffusion coefficient in such a system was almost 30 times smaller than that in C934 without micelles. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:1216,1225, 2001 [source]