Fatty acid-cationic surfactant vesicles: counter-ion self-encapsulation

摘要: Vesicles of fatty acids in the fluid state show interesting biomimetic properties and are potentially versatile substitutes to phospholipid vesicles materials science. However, their use is hindered by a poor stability against variations pH, ionic strength, temperature etc., which can be improved using, for instance, mixtures other amphiphilic molecules. Here we report an original property acid with aliphatic chains gel prepared from cationic surfactants. Apart encapsulating added solutes high yields showing durability, even drastic dialysis, dilution, concentration these also spontaneously encapsulate counter-ions (H+ halides) released upon surfactant association. This “self-encapsulation” leads large sustainable pH gradients across bilayer (ΔpH ≈ 3 over months), mediated formation gel-phase bilayers little defects. Both ability self-encapsulation have broad generality exploited surfactants generate ranging base.