Tailoring Supramolecular Nanotubes by Bile Salt Based Surfactant Mixtures

Abstract

An approach for tailoring self-assembled tubular structures is described. By controlling the relative composition of a two-component surfactant mixture comprising the natural bile salt lithocholate and its bolamphiphilic derivative, it was possible to finely tune the nanotube cross-section of the mixed tubular aggregates that self-associated spontaneously in aqueous solution at pH 12. The diameter was found to vary up to 50% when the stoichiometric ratio of the two bile salts was changed. The tuning of supramolecular nanochannels with such remarkable precision is of significant interest for technological applications of these materials.

Block copolymers as bile salt sequestrants: intriguing structures formed in a mixture of an oppositely charged amphiphilic block copolymer and bile salt

“…33,35 as well as hexagonal liquid crystalline phases. 36 Because of their molecular architecture, they are also used as substrates for the synthesis of an expanded family of rigid amphiphiles with uncommon aggregation behaviors [37][38][39][40] and dispersing ability. 41 BSs are some of the most important surfactants in many living organisms where they work as dispersing agents of dietary lipids to regulate their uptake in the small intestine.…”

Wormlike reverse micelles in lecithin/bile salt/water mixtures in oil

“…The tubes have cross section diameters spanning a wide range of values (3-450 nm) [9,19,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] and sometimes they form through appealing pH [35,36] or temperature responsive aggregations [37]. Mixed tubes with tunable composition and related features such as charge [38] and sizes [39] can sometimes be prepared. The unconventional amphiphilic molecular structure of BSs dictates also remarkable abilities as carriers across tissues and membranes of many compounds (e.g.…”

On the stability of lithocholate derivative supramolecular tubules

“…This signal was ascribed to the average molecular separation in the tube wall. 46,54 Sonication A 60 min sonication was applied to the viscous samples. Ice was added to the sonication bath in order to keep the temperature below 35 C. This led to the formation of turbid nanosuspensions that exhibited no birefringence.…”