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Formation of simple single-tailed vesicles mediated by lipophilic solid surfaces
Na Du1, Xiaoyu Zhu1, Ruiying Song1
1Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China. wghou@sdu.edu.cn.
Soft Matter
|October 8, 2016
Summary
Lipophilic solid surfaces mediate the formation of stable surfactant vesicles from simple single-tailed surfactants (STSs) in solution. This novel micelle-to-vesicle transition is thermally stable and pH-insensitive.
Area of Science:
- Colloid and Surface Science
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Surfactant adsorption and aggregation at solid-liquid interfaces are well-understood.
- Limited knowledge exists on how solid surfaces influence surfactant aggregate structures in bulk solution.
- Simple single-tailed surfactants (STSs) typically form micelles, not vesicles, in aqueous solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of lipophilic solid surfaces (LSSs) on the self-assembly of STSs in aqueous solutions.
- To explore the formation of novel surfactant aggregate structures mediated by LSSs.
- To understand the mechanism behind LSS-induced micelle-to-vesicle transitions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized zwitterionic lauryl sulfobetaine (LSB), a typical STS, in aqueous solutions.
- Introduced lipophilic solid surfaces (LSSs) to micellar LSB solutions.
- Analyzed the resulting aggregate structures (micelles and vesicles) using various techniques (details not specified in abstract).
- Investigated the influence of ethanol concentration and pH on vesicle formation and stability.
Main Results:
- LSSs mediated the formation of stable vesicles from micellar LSB solutions without additives.
- A mixed solution of vesicles and micelles was produced, with vesicles being thermally insensitive and stable even after LSS removal.
- Vesicle formation decreased with ethanol addition, while pH (4.0-9.0) had no significant effect.
- Similar results were observed with other STSs, indicating a general phenomenon.
Conclusions:
- Lipophilic solid surfaces can induce a micelle-to-vesicle transition in STSs, creating stable, mixed solutions.
- The proposed mechanism involves surfactant adsorption, a matrix effect from the LSS, and interdigitated bilayer structures.
- This finding provides crucial insights into the impact of solid/liquid interfaces on surfactant self-assembly in bulk solutions.
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