Cationic ester-containing gemini surfactants: chemical hydrolysis and biodegradation

Anti-adhesive, anti-biofilm and fungicidal action of newly synthesized gemini quaternary ammonium salts

Newly synthesized gemini quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) with different counterions (bromide, hydrogen chloride, methylcarbonate, acetate, lactate), chain lengths (C12, C14, C16) and methylene linker (3xCH2) were tested. Dihydrochlorides and dibromides with 12 carbon atoms in hydrophobic chains were characterized by the highest biological activity against planktonic forms of yeast and yeast-like fungi. The tested gemini surfactants also inhibited the production of filaments by C. albicans. Moreover, they reduced the adhesion of C. albicans cells to the surfaces of stainless steel, silicone and glass, and slightly to polystyrene. In particular, the gemini compounds with 16-carbon alkyl chains were most effective against biofilms. It was also found that the tested surfactants were not cytotoxic to yeast cells. Moreover, dimethylcarbonate (2xC12MeCO3G3) did not cause hemolysis of sheep erythrocytes. Dihydrochlorides, dilactate and diacetate showed no mutagenic potential.

Rethinking the Esterquats: Synthesis, Stability, Ecotoxicity and Applications of Esterquats Incorporating Analogs of Betaine or Choline as the Cation in Their Structure

Esterquats constitute a unique group of quaternary ammonium salts (QASs) that contain an ester bond in the structure of the cation. Despite the numerous advantages of this class of compounds, only two mini-reviews discuss the subject of esterquats: the first one (2007) briefly summarizes their types, synthesis, and structural elements required for a beneficial environmental profile and only briefly covers their applications whereas the second one only reviews the stability of selected betaine-type esterquats in aqueous solutions. The rationale for writing this review is to critically reevaluate the relevant literature and provide others with a "state-of-the-art" snapshot of choline-type esterquats and betaine-type esterquats. Hence, the first part of this survey thoroughly summarizes the most important scientific reports demonstrating effective synthesis routes leading to the formation of both types of esterquats. In the second section, the susceptibility of esterquats to hydrolysis is explained, and the influence of various factors, such as the pH, the degree of salinity, or the temperature of the solution, was subjected to thorough analysis that includes quantitative components. The next two sections refer to various aspects associated with the ecotoxicity of esterquats. Consequently, their biodegradation and toxic effects on microorganisms are extensively analyzed as crucial factors that can affect their commercialization. Then, the reported applications of esterquats are briefly discussed, including the functionalization of macromolecules, such as cotton fabric as well as their successful utilization on a commercial scale. The last section demonstrates the most essential conclusions and reported drawbacks that allow us to elucidate future recommendations regarding the development of these promising chemicals.

Ecotoxicity studies reveal that organic cations in dicamba-derived ionic liquids can pose a greater environmental risk than the herbicide itself

The following research provides novel and relevant insights into potential environmental consequences of combination of various organic cations with commercial systemic herbicide (dicamba), in accordance with a 'herbicidal ionic liquids' (HILs) strategy. Toxicity assays of five dicamba-based HILs comprising different hydrophobic and hydrophilic cations, namely choline [CHOL][DIC], ethyl betainate [BETC2][DIC], decyl betainate [BETC10][DIC], hexadecyl betainate [BETC16][DIC] and didecyldimethylammonium [DDA][DIC]), have been tested towards bacteria (Pseudomonas putida, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis), algae (Chlorella vulgaris), fresh and marine water crustaceans (Daphnia magna, Artemia franciscana). The structure of respective substituents in the cation emerged as a decisive determinant of toxicity in the case of tested species. In consequence, small ions of natural origin ([CHOL] and [BETC2]) demonstrated toxicity numerous orders of magnitude lower compared to fully synthetic [DDA]. These results emphasize the role of cations' hydrophobicity, as well as origin, in the observed acute toxic effect. Time-dependent toxicity assays also indicated that betaine-type cations comprising an ester bond can rapidly transform into less harmful substances, which can generally result in a reduction in toxicity by even several orders of magnitude. Nonetheless, these findings challenge the concept of ionic liquids with herbicidal activity and give apparent parallels to adjuvant-dependent toxicity issues recently noted in typical herbicidal formulations.

Impact of the Hydrocarbon Chain Length of Biodegradable Ester-Bonded Cationic Gemini Surfactants on Self-Assembly, In Vitro Gene Transfection, Cytotoxicity, and Antimicrobial Activity

Gemini surfactants, due to their unique structural features and enhanced properties compared to conventional surfactants, are becoming more popular in the domain of colloid and interface science, drug delivery, and gene delivery science. This distinct class of surfactants forms a wide range of self-assembled aggregates depending on their chemical structure and environmental conditions. The present work aims to develop Gemini with three distinct chain lengths linked through the ester group and quaternary nitrogen head groups that can bind DNA molecules and ultimately serve as vectors for DNA transfection. Thus, we synthesized three distinct cationic Gemini with 12, 14, and 16 carbons in their tails and studied the effect of the hydrocarbon chain length on their physicochemical properties and biological applications. The self-assembly of these Geminis in aqueous solution was investigated by a number of techniques, including surface tension, electrical conductivity, fluorescence probe, calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy. All three Gemini were extremely surface active and self-assembled above a very low critical micelle concentration. Calorimetric studies suggested the formation of thermodynamically favorable aggregates in an aqueous medium. Chain length dependence was observed in the size as well as the morphology of the aggregates. These Gemini ions were found to bind DNA strongly, as indicated by the high binding constant values. In vitro gene transfection studies using the RAW 264.7 cell line suggested that all three cationic Gemini had transfection efficiencies comparable to that of commercial standard turbofectamine. MTT assay was also performed for concentration selection while using these Gemini as transfection vectors. Overall, it was observed that Gemini had very little cytotoxicity within the investigated concentration range, highlighting the significance of the ester link within the structure. When compared with known antimicrobials such as kanamycin and ampicillin, all three Gemini furnished excellent antimicrobial activity in both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) microorganisms.

Quaternary ammonium salts based on caprylic acid as antimicrobial and surface-active agents

In this work, amidequats and esterquats based on caprylic acid were investigated as promising compounds with surface properties and biological activity that are in harmony with the principles of green chemistry. Herein, caprylic acid, which is an essential component of the above compounds, is a noteworthy natural resource. Structural analysis was performed with the amphiphilic cations of the tested amidequats and esterquats, revealing two distinct factors, i.e., the elongation of the alkyl chain and the presence of two different functional groups; these factors undoubtedly affect the desired biological activity. These compounds were synthesized and characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties, among which surface activity is pivotal. In addition, the surfaces of the tested compounds were investigated through a detailed topographical analysis. The obtained results suggested that the esterquats exhibited higher surface activity, wettability and foamability than the amidequats. Antimicrobial studies, on the other hand, are not as conclusive. For shorter chains, esterquats are more active than amidequats, while for longer chains (over C12), the trend was the opposite. The amidequats and esterquats presented in this research may be a potential good replacement for antimicrobial formulations or as alternatives to surface-active agents used in industry.

Effect of in situ mixed micellization of ester-functionalized gemini surfactant at different pHs on solubilization and cosolubilization of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of varying hydrophobicities

A pH controlled cleavability unfolds the 3-in-1 surfactant feature of an ester-bonded gemini surfactant, 2, 2'-[(oxybis (ethane-1,2-diyl))bis (oxy)]bis (N-hexadecyl-N,Ndimethyl-2-oxoethanaminium) dichloride (C16-C4O2-C16), by reinforcing in-situ mixed micellization between cleaved components at non-neutral pH (pH 3,12). The triplicity is assigned to two mixed-micelle variants at pH 3 and pH 12 besides the unhydrolyzed C16-C4O2-C16 at pH 7. The pH-controlled aggregation of such trichotomic surfactant dramatically enhances the micellar solubilization/cosolubilization of PAHs viz. naphthalene (Np), phenanthrene (Ph), pyrene (Py), perylene (Pe). The cosolubilization of binary/ternary PAH mixtures in such remarkable micellar assemblies at pH 3, 7 and 12 yields intriguing synergistic or antagonistic solubility outcomes correlated to PAH-PAH and PAH-micelle interactions. This study provides valuable insights into the potential applications of the ester-bonded gemini surfactant for the cosolubilization of undesirable hydrophobic compounds at natural sites having variable pH.

Cationic Surfactants Based on Arginine-Phenylalanine and Arginine-Tryptophan: Synthesis, Aggregation Behavior, Antimicrobial Activity, and Biodegradation

Cationic surfactants have great potential as drug vehicles and for use in gene therapy (cationic vesicles made from cationic surfactants can encapsulate RNA or DNA for cellular transfer). They can also be used as antimicrobial and antifungal agents to treat human infections. In an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance, the development of new biocompatible surfactants suitable for application as antimicrobial agents is of high interest. In this work, a library of amino acid-based surfactants was synthesized, characterized and tested for antimicrobial activity. The head group architecture (number and type of amino acids, density of cationic charge, ionic character) and the hydrophobic moiety (alkyl chain length and position of the hydrophobic group) were systematically modified, and the effect on the surfactant biological and aggregation behavior was studied. Thus, the pKa values, micellization process, antimicrobial efficiency and biodegradability were evaluated. The critical micelle concentration values of the surfactants depended on their hydrophobic character, but changes in the polar head as well as the position and length of the alkyl chain also significantly affected activity against some of the tested microorganisms. Moreover, biodegradability was closely related to the hydrophobic character of the surfactant and attachment of the alkyl chain to the polar head. The structure-activity relationships established here may open perspectives for the design of effective biodegradable antimicrobial materials that can overcome emerging resistance.

Toward revealing the role of the cation in the phytotoxicity of the betaine-based esterquats comprising dicamba herbicide

In this study, two homologous series of esterquats comprising alkyl (from ethyl to octadecyl) betainate cations and bromide as well as dicamba anions were successfully synthesized, starting from a renewable raw material - glycine betaine. Due to the favorable octanol-water partition coefficient and utilization of biodegradable cations of natural origin, synthesized esterquats can be considered promising alternatives to currently applied dicamba-based formulations. In addition, the obtained results allowed us to verify whether the organic cations in quaternary ammonium salts containing herbicidally active anions (such as dicamba) play the role of biologically inactive adjuvants that only enhance the efficiency of the active ingredient or if they simultaneously exhibit a significant degree of phytotoxicity. Analysis of the influence of alkyl betainate esterquats containing nonherbicidal (bromide) anions on seedlings of white mustard revealed that alkyl betainate cations promote the germination of white mustard seeds; however, the subsequent growth of the seedlings was significantly inhibited. Further studies performed on white mustard and cornflower plants in a stage of 4-6 leaves allowed us to conclude that in the case of sensitive plants, the high phytotoxicity can be attributed to the presence of the dicamba anion, whereas for more resistant plants the additional influence of the cation on the phytotoxic effect is visible. Esterquats comprising a dodecyl substituent or longer had high surface active properties. Nonetheless, their contact angle values were not correlated with phytotoxicity data, indicating an additional influence of the cation on this stage of plant development. Interestingly, subsequent dose-response experiments conducted for two selected dicamba-based products confirmed that the greatest phytotoxicity was expressed by compounds containing a decyl substituent.

Fabrication of Encapsulated Gemini Surfactants

(1) Background: Encapsulation of surfactants is an innovative approach that allows not only protection of the active substance, but also its controlled and gradual release. This is primarily used to protect metallic surfaces against corrosion or to create biologically active surfaces. Gemini surfactants are known for their excellent anticorrosion, antimicrobial and surface properties; (2) Methods: In this study, we present an efficient methods of preparation of encapsulated gemini surfactants in form of alginate and gelatin capsules; (3) Results: The analysis of infrared spectra and images of the scanning electron microscope confirm the effectiveness of encapsulation; (4) Conclusions: Gemini surfactants in encapsulated form are promising candidates for corrosion inhibitors and antimicrobials with the possibility of protecting the active substance against environmental factors and the possibility of controlled outflow.

Cationic gemini surfactant properties, its potential as a promising bioapplication candidate, and strategies for improving its biocompatibility: A review

Gemini surfactants consist of two cationic monomers of a surfactant linked together with a spacer. The specific structure of a cationic gemini surfactant is the reason for both its high surface activity and its ability to decrease the surface tension of water. The high surface activity and unique structure of gemini surfactants result in outstanding properties, including antibacterial and antifungal activity, anticorrosion properties, unique aggregation behaviour, the ability to form various structures reversibly in response to environmental conditions, and interactions with biomacromolecules such as DNA and proteins. These properties can be tailored by selecting the optimal structure of a gemini surfactant in terms of the nature and length of its alkyl substituents, spacer, and head group. Additionally, regarding their properties, comparison with their monomeric counterparts demonstrates that gemini surfactants have higher performance efficacy at lower concentrations. Hence, less material is needed, and the toxicity is lower. However, there are some limitations regarding their biocompatibility that have led researchers to develop amino acid-based and sugar-based gemini surfactants. Owing to their remarkable properties, cationic gemini surfactants are promising candidates for bioapplications such as drug delivery systems, gene carriers, and biomaterial surface modification.

Influence of Inorganic Salts and pH on Surface Activity of Biodegradable Amido Gemini Amine Oxide Surfactant

The present study was designed to provide information regarding the influences of pH and inorganic salts on the surface activity of the amido Gemini amine oxide surfactants, the formula of which was C _n H_{2 n +1}CONH(CH₂)₂N⁺O^-(CH₃)-(CH₂)₂-(CH₃)N⁺O^-(CH₂)₂NHCOC _n H_{2 n +1} (n=11, 13, 15, and 17). Their biodegradability was also investigated. The results showed that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the corresponding surface tension (γ_CMC) changed regularly with the increase of the mass concentration of NaCl and CaCl₂. The optimal CMC and γ_CMC can be obtained by adjusting the inorganic salt content. Besides, the CMC near the isoelectric point of the surfactant is higher than the CMC within the isoelectric point. Furthermore, the biodegradability test revealed that the prepared surfactants had good biodegradability which was above 96% after 7 days.

Self-Assembling Drug Formulations with Tunable Permeability and Biodegradability

This review focuses on key topics in the field of drug delivery related to the design of nanocarriers answering the biomedicine criteria, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, and the ability to overcome biological barriers. For these reasons, much attention is paid to the amphiphile-based carriers composed of natural building blocks, lipids, and their structural analogues and synthetic surfactants that are capable of self-assembly with the formation of a variety of supramolecular aggregates. The latter are dynamic structures that can be used as nanocontainers for hydrophobic drugs to increase their solubility and bioavailability. In this section, biodegradable cationic surfactants bearing cleavable fragments are discussed, with ester- and carbamate-containing analogs, as well as amino acid derivatives received special attention. Drug delivery through the biological barriers is a challenging task, which is highlighted by the example of transdermal method of drug administration. In this paper, nonionic surfactants are primarily discussed, including their application for the fabrication of nanocarriers, their surfactant-skin interactions, the mechanisms of modulating their permeability, and the factors controlling drug encapsulation, release, and targeted delivery. Different types of nanocarriers are covered, including niosomes, transfersomes, invasomes and chitosomes, with their morphological specificity, beneficial characteristics and limitations discussed.

Heads or tails? The synthesis, self-assembly, properties and uses of betaine and betaine-like surfactants

Betaines are a key class of zwitterionic surfactant that exhibit particularly favorable properties, making them indispensable in modern formulation. Due to their composition, betaines are readily biodegradable, mild on the skin and exhibit some antimicrobial activity. Vital to their function, these surfactants self-assemble into diverse micellar geometries, some of which contribute to increased solution viscosity, and their surface activity results in strong detergency and foaming. As such, their behavior has been exploited in various applications from personal care (including shampoos and liquid soaps) to specific industrial fields (such as enhanced oil recovery). This review aims to inform the reader of the diverse range of different betaine and betaine-like surfactants that have been actively researched over the past three decades. Synthesis as well as both chemical and physical characterization of betaine surfactants are discussed, including small-angle scattering studies that indicate self-assembly structures and rheological data that demonstrates texture and flow. Stimulus responsive systems and exotic betaine analogs with enhanced functionality are also covered. Crucially, the connection between surfactant molecular architecture and function are highlighted, exemplifying precisely why zwitterionic betaine and related surfactants are so uniquely functional.

Antimicrobial Activity of Gemini Surfactants with Ether Group in the Spacer Part

Due to their large possibility of the structure modification, alkylammonium gemini surfactants are a rapidly growing class of compounds. They exhibit significant surface, aggregation and antimicrobial properties. Due to the fact that, in order to achieve the desired utility effect, the minimal concentration of compounds are used, they are in line with the principle of greenolution (green evolution) in chemistry. In this study, we present innovative synthesis of the homologous series of gemini surfactants modified at the spacer by the ether group, i.e., 3-oxa-1,5-pentane-bis(N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylammonium bromides). The critical micelle concentrations were determined. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the synthesized compounds were determined against bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC 10536 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538; yeast Candida albicans ATCC 10231; and molds Aspergillus niger ATCC 16401 and Penicillium chrysogenum ATCC 60739. We also investigated the relationship between antimicrobial activity and alkyl chain length or the nature of the spacer. The obtained results indicate that the synthesized compounds are effective microbicides with a broad spectrum of biocidal activity.

Biofilm eradication and antifungal mechanism of action against Candida albicans of cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linker

Our research aims to expand the knowledge on relationships between the structure of cationic dicephalic surfactants—N,N-bis[3,3_-(dimethylamine)propyl]alkylamide dihydrochlorides and N,N-bis[3,3_-(trimethylammonio)propyl]alkylamide dibromides (alkyl: n-C9H19, n-C11H23, n-C13H27, n-C15H31)—and their antifungal mechanism of action on Candida albicans. The mentioned groups of amphiphilic substances are characterized by the presence of a weak, hydrochloride cationic center readily undergoing deprotonation, as well as a stable, strong quaternary ammonium group and alkyl chains capable of strong interactions with fungal cells. Strong fungicidal properties and the role in creation and eradication of biofilm of those compounds were discussed in our earlier works, yet their mechanism of action remained unclear. It was shown that investigated surfactants induce strong oxidative stress and cause increase in cell membrane permeability without compromising its continuity, as indicated by increased potassium ion (K⁺) leakage. Thus experiments carried out on the investigated opportunistic pathogen indicate that the mechanism of action of the researched surfactants is different than in the case of the majority of known surfactants. Results presented in this paper significantly broaden the understanding on multifunctional cationic surfactants and their mechanism of action, as well as suggest their possible future applications as surface coating antiadhesives, fungicides and antibiofilm agents in medicine or industry.

Towards Rational Biosurfactant Design-Predicting Solubilization in Rhamnolipid Solutions

The efficiency of micellar solubilization is dictated inter alia by the properties of the solubilizate, the type of surfactant, and environmental conditions of the process. We, therefore, hypothesized that using the descriptors of the aforementioned features we can predict the solubilization efficiency, expressed as molar solubilization ratio (MSR). In other words, we aimed at creating a model to find the optimal surfactant and environmental conditions in order to solubilize the substance of interest (oil, drug, etc.). We focused specifically on the solubilization in biosurfactant solutions. We collected data from literature covering the last 38 years and supplemented them with our experimental data for different biosurfactant preparations. Evolutionary algorithm (EA) and kernel support vector machines (KSVM) were used to create predictive relationships. The descriptors of biosurfactant (logP_BS, measure of purity), solubilizate (logP_sol, molecular volume), and descriptors of conditions of the measurement (T and pH) were used for modelling. We have shown that the MSR can be successfully predicted using EAs, with a mean R² _val of 0.773 ± 0.052. The parameters influencing the solubilization efficiency were ranked upon their significance. This represents the first attempt in literature to predict the MSR with the MSR calculator delivered as a result of our research.

Cationic gemini surfactant stimulates amyloid fibril formation in bovine liver catalase at physiological pH. A biophysical study

Surfactant molecules stimulate amyloid fibrillation and conformational switching in proteins but the mechanisms by which they accomplish these effects are unclear. A cationic gemini surfactant, C₁₆C₄C₁₆Br₂, with two positively charged heads and two-16C hydrophobic tails induces the amyloid fibrillation of bovine liver catalase (BLC) in vitro at physiological pH. The BLC transformed into amyloid aggregates in the presence of low concentrations (2–150 μM) of C₁₆C₄C₁₆Br₂ at pH 7.4, as confirmed by the use of several biophysical techniques (Rayleigh light scattering (RLS), intrinsic fluorescence, thioflavin T fluorescence (ThT), far-UV circular dichroism, and transmission electron microscopy). The secondary structure of BLC also changed according to the concentration of C₁₆C₄C₁₆Br₂: the α-helical structure of BLC decreased in the presence of 2–100 μM of C₁₆C₄C₁₆Br₂ but at concentrations above 200 μM BLC regained a α-helical structure very similar to the native BLC. In silico molecular docking between BLC and C₁₆C₄C₁₆Br₂ suggest that the positively charged heads of the surfactant interact with Asp127 through attractive electrostatic interactions. Moreover, a Pi-cation electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic interactions also take place between the tails of the surfactant and BLC. The stability of the BLC–C₁₆C₄C₁₆Br₂ complex was confirmed by performing a molecular dynamics simulation and evaluating parameters such as root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), radius of gyration (R_g), and solvent accessible surface area (SASA). Apart from its aggregation inducing properties, the gemini surfactant itself causes toxicity to the cancerous cell (A549): which is confirmed by MTT assay. This work delivers new insight into the effect of cationic gemini surfactants in amyloid aggregation and paves the way to the rational design of new anti-amyloidogenic agents.

Surfactant molecules stimulate amyloid fibrillation and conformational switching in proteins but the mechanisms by which they accomplish these effects are unclear.

Iodosulfuron-Methyl-Based Herbicidal Ionic Liquids Comprising Alkyl Betainate Cation as Novel Active Ingredients with Reduced Environmental Impact and Excellent Efficacy

A new family of bio-based herbicidal ionic liquids (HILs) has been synthesized starting from the renewable resource glycine betaine (a derivative of natural amino acids). After esterification, the obtained alkyl betainate bromides containing straight alkyl chains varying from ethyl to octadecyl were combined with a herbicidal anion from the sulfonylurea group (iodosulfuron-methyl). The melting points of the iodosulfuron-methyl-based salts were in a range from 51 to 99 °C, which allows their classification as ionic liquids (ILs). In addition, the new HILs exhibited good affinity for polar and semipolar organic solvents, such as DMSO, methanol, acetonitrile, acetone, and chloroform, while the presence of bulky organic cations reduced their solubility in water. The synthesized products turned out to be stable during storage at 25 °C for over 6 months; however, at 75 °C they underwent fast, progressive degradation and released volatile byproducts. The values of the logarithm of the octanol-water partition coefficient of ILs with alkyls longer than hexyl occurred in the "safe zone" (between 0 and 3); hence, the risk of their migration into groundwater after application or the possibility of their bioaccumulation in the environment is lower in comparison with the currently available commercial form (iodosulfuron-methyl sodium salt). Greenhouse studies confirmed a very high herbicidal efficacy for the obtained salts toward tested plants of oilseed rape, indicating that they may become an attractive replacement for the currently available sulfonylurea-based formulations.

Investigation of micellar and interfacial phenomenon of amitriptyline hydrochloride with cationic ester-bonded gemini surfactant mixture in different solvent media

Herein, the interaction among the antidepressant drug amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMT) and a green gemini surfactant, ethane-1, 2-diyl bis(N,N-dimethyl-N-tetradecylammoniumacetoxy) dichloride (14-E2-14), via numerous techniques such as tensiometry, fluorimetry, FT-IR and UV-visible spectroscopy in three different media (aqueous 0.050 mol·kg^-1 NaCl, 0.50 and 1.0 mol·kg^-1 urea) were investigated. AMT is used to treat mental illness or mood problems, such as depression. The aggregation of biologically active ingredients can enhance the bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs. A significant interaction between AMT and 14-E2-14 was detected by tensiometric study as the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of AMT+14-E2-14 is reduced upon an increase of mole fraction (α₁) of 14-E2-14. The decrease in cmc indicates the nonideality of studied mixtures of different compositions. Although, employed drug AMT is freely soluble in the aqueous and non-aqueous system but is not hydrophobic enough to act as its carrier. Instead, gemini surfactant formed spherical micelles in an aqueous system and their high solubilization capability, as well as their relatively lower cmc value, makes them highly stable in vivo. The cmc values of AMT+14-E-14 mixtures in all cases were further decreased and increased in NaCl and urea solutions respectively as compared with the aqueous system. Numerous micellar, interfacial, and thermodynamic parameters have been measured by applying various theoretical models. The obtained changes in the physicochemical assets of AMT upon adding of 14-E2-14 are likely to enhance the industrial and pharmaceutical applications of gemini surfactants. The negative interaction parameters (β^m and β^σ), indicate synergistic attraction is occurring in the mixed systems. The aggregation number (N_agg), Stern–Volmer constant (K_sv), etc. are attained through the fluorescence method, also supporting the attractive interaction behavior of AMT+14-E2-14 mixtures in all solvents. The N_agg was found to increase in the salt solution and decrease in the urea system compared with the aqueous solution. FT-IR and UV-visible analysis also depict the interaction between the constituent alike tensiometry and fluorimetry methods. The results suggested that gemini surfactants may serve as a capable drug delivery agent for antidepressants, improving their bioavailability.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Computational Chemical Study of Aliphatic Tricationic Surfactants as Corrosion Inhibitors for Metallic Equipment in Oil Fields

Aliphatic tricationic surfactants were prepared by the esterification reaction, followed by a quaternization reaction to protect oil well facilities from corrosion problems. Microelemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopic techniques were performed to explore the obtained motifs. The performance of these amphiphiles as inhibitors for metallic S90 steel corrosion in formation water was investigated through electrochemical tests (potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). The results revealed significant inhibition effectiveness improvement with increasing concentrations of these amphiphiles. Its maximum inhibition efficiency reaches 93.07% at 250 ppm for the compound (AED). Potentiodynamic polarization graphs demonstrated that tricationic amphiphiles behave as mixed-type inhibitors. In addition, the adsorption of the tricationic surfactant at the S90 steel surface followed Langmuir isotherm. Atomic force microscopy revealed that a protective layer formed at the surface of S90 steel caused the inhibition of corrosion. During the inhibition procedure of S90 steel corrosion, theoretical research has been performed to validate electrochemical experiments and to clearly demonstrate the mechanism of these amphiphiles. Finally, quantum chemical calculations were calculated to achieve the justification for the obtained empirical results.

Biodegradability and aquatic toxicity of new cleavable betainate cationic oligomeric surfactants

New cleavable oligomeric cationic surfactants containing ester groups susceptible to hydrolysis between the hydrocarbon tails and the hydrophilic moiety have been synthesized and their biodegradability and aquatic toxicity examined. Aerobic biodegradability was evaluated by applying a standard method for ready biodegradability, the CO₂ Headspace test. Aquatic toxicity was assessed by means of the acute toxicity test with Daphnia. Cleavable oligomeric cationic surfactants undergo a significant biodegradation extent (31-52%) as compared to dimeric surfactants without ester groups that showed null degradation in previous works. However, they do not attain the threshold of ultimate degradation required (60%) to be classed as easily biodegradable chemicals. On the other hand, the introduction of cleavable groups in the surfactant hydrophobic chains reduces the toxic effects on the microorganisms responsible for degradation observed for conventional alkyl ammonium dimeric surfactants. Acute toxicity values of betainate cationic oligomeric surfactants to Daphnia magna, IC₅₀-48 h, varies from 1.5 to 50 mg/L. Aquatic toxicity of oligomeric cationic surfactants depends on their hydrophobicity and increases regularly with the alkyl chain length. However, whether the surfactant is a dimeric or a trimeric betaine ester does not affect their acute toxicity to crustacean.

Synthesis, Characterization and Solution Properties of Novel Cationic Ester-Based Gemini Surfactants

The present investigation involves the synthesis of a series of novel green ethylene oxide-linked diester-functionalized cationic gemini surfactants 2,2′-[(oxybis(ethane-1,2-diyl))bis(oxy)]bis(N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-oxoethanaminium) dichloride (Cm-DEG-Cm; m = 12, 14, 16). These compounds were characterized by 1H-NMR, MS-ESI (+), FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis; their solution properties were evaluated by surface tension and rheology measurements. The dimeric surfactant, Cm-DEG-Cm, possesses improved physicochemical properties as compared to its monomeric counterpart. Much lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) makes the cationic gemini surfactants more useful for the biomedical, pharmaceutical, industrial and academic sectors. Longer the alkyl chain of surfactants lower are the cmc values, the order is C16-DEG-C16 < C14-DEG-C14 < C12-DEG-C12. For all the three synthesized gemini surfactants no cloud point was noticed in between the temperatures 0 °C to 100 °C at the concentrations 0.002 mM, 0.02 mM and 0.2 mM of the aqueous surfactant solutions which is a beneficial factor for the use of these amphiphiles in various areas of application.

A reverse degradation vs. temperature relationship for a carbonate-containing gemini surfactant

The rate of hydrolysis of cleavable surfactant is known to have a strong temperature dependence. A nonionic gemini surfactant with a readily hydrolysable carbonate bond as spacer unit has been synthesized and evaluated. A carbonate linkage is special as spacer unit in a gemini surfactant because the hydrolysis results in two identical molecules, in this case a hydroxy-substituted nonionic surfactant, along with carbon dioxide. The critical micelle concentration for the gemini surfactant was an order of magnitude lower than that of the degradation product. The degradation of the new surfactant and specifically the effect of temperature on the rate of hydrolysis was investigated in detail. It was found that alkaline hydrolysis was rapid at 15 °C but very slow at 30 °C, i.e. there was a reverse relationship between rate of hydrolysis and temperature. The same behavior was found for monomeric nonionic carbonate-containing surfactants that were synthesized and used as references. This unusual behavior, which can be of practical use, is explained by the reverse solubility vs. temperature profile for amphiphiles carrying a polyoxyethylene chain.

Locomotion Mode of Micrometer-Sized Oil Droplets in Solutions of Cationic Surfactants Having Ester or Ether Linkages

Micrometer-sized self-propelled oil droplets under a far-from-equilibrium condition have drawn much attention because of their potential as a dynamic model for the chemical machinery in living organisms. To clarify the effect of interactions between the system components (surfactant, oil, and water) on the locomotion mode of droplets, we investigated the behaviors of oil droplets composed of n-heptyloxybenzaldehyde (HBA) in solutions of cationic surfactants having or not having an ester or an ether linkage. It was observed that in solutions of cationic surfactants having an ester or an ether linkage, spherical HBA droplets self-propelled by changing their direction frequently. On the other hand, when this functional group is absent, a slow self-propelled motion of the oil droplets concurrent with the evolution of aggregates on their surface was observed. From the results of measurement of interfacial tension and assessment of self-emulsification, we determined that the attractive interactions of cationic surfactants without an ester or an ether linkage with HBA are stronger than those having the linkage. The difference in the locomotion mode of oil droplets is probably explained from the viewpoint of the interactions among the system components.