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SDS triggered transformation of highly hydrophobic Pluronics® nanoaggregate into polymer-rich and surfactant-rich mixed micelles

Authors :
Pratap Bahadur
Ketan Kuperkar
Divya Patel
Vinod K. Aswal
Sanjay Tiwari
Debes Ray
Source :
Journal of Molecular Liquids. 345:117812
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2022.

Abstract

This work reveals the role of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS, anionic surfactant) in altering the phase behaviour and aggregation characteristics of five very hydrophobic polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymers containing 10% PEO but with different molecular weight. These copolymers are molecularly dissolved in water at ≤15–20 °C and exist as unstable vesicular structure at temperature close to cloud point (CP) >20 °C. SDS enhanced the aqueous solubility and CP of copolymers in water; progressive addition of SDS triggered the transformation of unstable vesicles into spherical mixed micelles. A correlation between the molecular orbital energy levels of Pluronics® and SDS is well comprehended using computational simulation approach where the perception of SDS stabilized Pluronics® micelles is predicted and correlated with optimized parameters. The size/ shape of copolymer-surfactant mixed nanoscale aggregates was evaluated using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The scattering studies showed the presence of spherical mixed aggregates, whose size expanded with increase in hydrophobicity of Pluronics®. In high SDS concentration regime, SANS analysis uncovered the diminishing size of vesicles into spherical mixed aggregates. The nanoscale Pluronics®-SDS mixed micelles remained stable in water where this investigation discloses the conceivable ability of orange-OT solubilization using UV–vis spectroscopy.

Details

ISSN :
01677322
Volume :
345
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Molecular Liquids
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........3cd6e2d14f6b7c593fd8309e94f11d81
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2021.117812