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Related Concept Videos

Micelles01:30

Micelles

Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...
Colloids03:22

Colloids

Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...
Surface Active Agents01:27

Surface Active Agents

Surfactants, named for their behavior at interfaces, positively adsorb at the interfaces of two phases, reducing interfacial tension. Their versatility as emulsifiers, detergents, and foaming agents stems from this ability. Surfactants, often termed amphiphiles, share the property of amphipathy, with molecules having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions. The hydrophilic part is called the head, and the hydrophobic part, including an elongated alkyl substituent, forms the tail.Surfactants...
Detergent Purification of Membrane Proteins01:18

Detergent Purification of Membrane Proteins

Detergents are used to purify the integral proteins of the membrane. The hydrophobic portion of the detergent can replace membrane phospholipids while solubilizing the membrane proteins. When detergent monomers reach a specific concentration in a solution called critical micelle concentration (CMC), they form micelles. Above CMC, the concentration of the detergent monomers remains in equilibrium with the micelle. The number of detergent monomers present in the CMC varies for each detergent, and...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

Membrane fluidity is explained by the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane, which describes the plasma membrane structure as a mosaic of components—including phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates—that gives the membrane a fluid character.
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...

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Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst
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Responsive wormlike micelles from dynamic covalent surfactants.

Christophe B Minkenberg1, Bart Homan, Job Boekhoven

  • 1Self-Assembling Systems, Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands.

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Adaptive nanosystems form spontaneously from imine-based gemini surfactants. These dynamic covalent wormlike micelles respond to pH and temperature changes, switching between assembled and dispersed states.

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Area of Science:

  • Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry

Background:

  • Dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) enables the creation of adaptive and stimulus-responsive materials.
  • Imine bonds are versatile dynamic covalent linkages suitable for self-assembly.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the spontaneous formation of dynamic covalent wormlike micelles from imine-based gemini surfactants.
  • To investigate the stimulus-responsive behavior of these self-assembled nanostructures.

Main Methods:

  • Mixing aqueous solutions of complementary non-surface-active precursors to form imine bonds.
  • Utilizing dynamic covalent imine bond reversibility for stimulus-responsive switching.
  • Employing thermodynamic modeling to analyze reaction equilibria and assembly behavior.

Main Results:

  • Spontaneous formation of dynamic covalent wormlike micelles from imine-based gemini surfactants.
  • Demonstrated pH and temperature-triggered switching between isotropic solution and assembled micellar states.
  • Thermodynamic analysis confirmed that double-tailed surfactants predominantly form the wormlike micelles.

Conclusions:

  • Imine-based gemini surfactants are effective building blocks for stimulus-responsive nanosystems.
  • The reversible nature of dynamic covalent bonds allows for controlled assembly and disassembly of nanostructures.
  • This work highlights a facile route to adaptive materials with tunable properties.