engleski

Surfactants - Control and Adjustment of Supramolecules

Preparation of a surfactant supramolecule with desired size, shape and charge has been conducted in our group by (i) manipulation of a surfactant molecule structure and/or (ii) adjustment of conditions in aqueous solution. Former includes synthesis of a novel dissymmetric gemini surfactants. Spherical or wormlike micelles and vesicles have been prepared by variation of the flexible spacer length. Changes of condition in bulk phase have been performed by: (i) variation of surfactant concentration (size and shape transition), (ii) temperature changes (transformation of solid crystalline lamellar structures to vesicles), (iii) addition of electrolyte (manipulation with charge and concentration of counterions), (iv) addition of oppositely charged surfactants - catanionic surfactant mixtures (manipulation with total concentration and molar ratio of surfactants), (v) addition of biopolymers to oppositely charged surfactants (manipulation with total concentration and molar ratio of oppositely charged species). The characteristic of surfactant mixtures with oppositely charged components is spontaneous formation of vesicles, especially giant vesicles. Giant vesicles seem to have potential as cariers in drug delivery but still need more refinement to meet requirements for stability and retention times.

surfactants; supramolecules

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