Stimuli–responsive vesicles as potential reagent carriers

ANYL 336

Yuming Yang, yyang7@lsu.edu, Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, 302 Choppin Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 and Robin L. McCarley, tunnel@lsu.edu, Department of Chemistry, Lousiana State University, Choppin Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
A novel redox-active surfactant structure has been synthesized and evaluated. Based on its molecular shape/structure, this surfactant has the ability to aggregate into bilayers which can be formed into unilamellar vesicles via extrusion treatment. Light scattering experiments in aqueous solution confirmed the presence of 60-70 nm diameter aggregates that are attributed to vesicles. The surfactant structure contains an electroactive quinone moiety which can undergo an intramolecular cyclization and subsequent surfactant chain elimination reaction upon its reduction (chemical agent or electrode induced). Thus, the delivery and release of small molecules or particles inside the vesicles can be controlled by redox action. The redox-triggered degradation kinetics of the surfactant has been monitored by NMR. The first order reaction has been observed. UV and Fluorescence spectroscopy studies will be used to demonstrate the ability of these vesicles to release their contents.
 

Analytical Approaches: Novel Materials
1:30 PM-4:40 PM, Thursday, 14 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 130, Oral

Division of Analytical Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006