Diffusion of organic dyes in immobilized and free catanionic vesicles.

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) has been used to study the motion of fluorescent dyes in a giant (diameter 20 000 nm = 20 µm) catanionic vesicle comprised of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB). The diffusion in the anion (SDS) rich catanionic vesicle was studied both in bulk water and in an immobilized vesicle attached to a positively charged glass surface. In the case of the immobilized vesicle, the diffusion coefficients (D(t)) of R6G (rhodamine 6G), DCM (4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-p-dimethyl aminostyryl-4H-pyran), and C343 (coumarin 343) are found to be 1.5, 2.5, and 10 µm(2)/s, respectively, which are 280, 120, and 55 times slower compared to those for the same dyes in bulk water. The magnitude of D(t) is found to vary for different vesicles. This was attributed to the difference in size and shape of the immobilized vesicles. In bulk, R6G binds completely to the vesicle and exhibits extremely slow diffusion with D(t) = 0.5 ± 0.1 µm(2)/s (∼850 and 3 times slower compared to that of R6G in bulk water and within the immobilized vesicle). This is attributed to very slow overall diffusion of the very large size vesicles (20 µm = 20 000 nm). Both of the dye molecules (DCM and C343) show two different diffusion coefficients for the vesicles in bulk. In this case, the small D(t) (0.5 ± 0.1 µm(2)/s) corresponds to the diffusion of the vesicle as a whole and the large D(t) value (300 and 550 µm(2)/s for DCM and C343, respectively) corresponds to the free dye molecules in bulk water.

Ultrafast and ultraslow proton transfer of pyranine in an ionic liquid microemulsion.

Effect of a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) and water on the ultrafast excited state proton transfer (ESPT) of pyranine (8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate, HPTS) inside a microemulsion is studied by femtosecond up-conversion. The microemulsion consists of the surfactant, triton X-100 (TX-100) in benzene (bz) and contains the RTIL, 1-pentyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([pmim] [BF(4)]) as the polar phase. In the absence of water, HPTS undergoes ultrafast ESPT inside the RTIL microemulsion (RTIL/TX-100/bz) and the deprotonated form (RO(-)) exhibits three rise components of 0.3, 14, and 375 ps. It is proposed that in the RTIL microemulsion, HPTS binds to the TX-100 at the interface region and participates in ultrafast ESPT to the oxygen atoms of TX-100. On addition of water an additional slow rise of 2150 ps is observed. Similar long rise component is also observed in water/TX-100/benzene reverse micelle (in the absence of [pmim] [BF(4)]). It is suggested that the added water molecules preferentially concentrate (trapped) around the palisade layer of the RTIL microemulsion. The trapped water molecules remain far from the HPTS both in the presence and absence of ionic liquid and gives rise to the slow component (2150 ps) of ESPT. Replacement of H(2)O by D(2)O causes an increase in the time constant of the ultraslow rise to 2350 ps.

Deuterium isotope effect on femtosecond solvation dynamics in methyl beta-cyclodextrins.

Deuterium isotope effect on the solvation dynamics and fluorescence anisotropy decay of coumarin 153 (C153) bound to dimethyl beta-cyclodextrin (DMB) and trimethyl beta-cyclodextrin (TMB) is studied using femtosecond upconversion. In D(2)O, there is a marked increase in the steady state emission quantum yield and fluorescence lifetime of C153 bound to DMB and TMB. This suggests strong coupling between C153 and D(2)O inside the cyclodextrin cavity. In D(2)O, average solvation time of C153 in DMB is about 1.7 times slower compared to that in water. For TMB in D(2)O, solvation is 1.5 times slower. The deuterium isotope effect on solvation dynamics at long time arises mainly from the longer excited state lifetime. The longest components of solvation dynamics are ascribed to self-diffusion of C153 out of the cyclodextrin cavity. The nearly 1.5 times slower anisotropy decay of C153 bound to DMB and TMB in D(2)O (compared to H(2)O) is attributed to higher viscosity of D(2)O.

Femtosecond solvation dynamics in a micron-sized aggregate of an ionic liquid and P123 triblock copolymer.

Dynamic light scattering studies indicate that addition of a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL, [pmim][Br]), to a triblock copolymer (P123) micelle leads to the formation of giant P123-RTIL clusters of size (diameter) 40 nm in 0.9 M and 3500 nm (3.5 microm) in 3 M RTIL. They are much larger than a P123 micelle ( approximately 18 nm) or [pmim][Br] (1.3 nm). Dynamics in different regions of the P123-RTIL aggregate is probed by variation of the excitation wavelength (lambda(ex)) using femtosecond up-conversion. For lambda(ex) = 375 nm, the nonpolar core of the P123-RTIL aggregate is preferentially excited while lambda(ex) = 435 nm selects the polar corona region. Solvation dynamics and anisotropy decay of coumarin 480 (C480) in a P123-RTIL giant aggregate are markedly different from those in either P123 micelle or those in an aqueous solution of the RTIL. For lambda(ex) = 405 nm in 5 wt % P123 and 0.9 M RTIL average rotational time, ( = 1350 ps) of C480 is approximately 7 times longer than that (200 ps) in an aqueous solution of the RTIL in the absence of P123 and is shorter than that (3000 ps) in a P123 micelle. In 0.9 M RTIL and 5 wt % P123, solvation dynamics in the corona region (lambda(ex) = 435 nm, = 75 ps) is approximately 25 times faster than that at the core region (at lambda(ex) = 375 nm, = 1900 ps). The solvation dynamics in the core of the P123-RTIL aggregate is faster than that in P123 micelle (3550 ps in the core) and is much slower than that (130 ps) in an aqueous solution containing 0.9 M RTIL. In the 3.5 microm sized aggregate (3 M RTIL and P123), the solvation dynamics in the core ( = 500 ps) is approximately 4 times faster than that in 0.9 M RTIL.

A femtosecond study of solvation dynamics and anisotropy decay in a catanionic vesicle: excitation-wavelength dependence.

The structure and dynamics of a catanionic vesicle are studied by means of femtosecond up-conversion and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The catanionic vesicle is composed of dodecyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (DTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The DLS data suggest that 90 % of the vesicles have a diameter of about 400 nm, whereas the diameter of the other 10 % is about 50 nm. The dynamics in the catanionic vesicle are compared with those in pure SDS and DTAB micelles. We also study the dynamics in different regions of the micelle/vesicle by varying the excitation wavelength (lambda(ex)) from 375 to 435 nm. The catanionic vesicle is found to be more heterogeneous than the SDS or DTAB micelles, and hence, the lambda(ex)-dependent variation of the solvation dynamics is more prominent in the first case. The solvation dynamics in the vesicle and the micelles display an ultraslow component (2 and 300 ps, respectively), which arises from the quasibound, confined water inside the micelle, and an ultrafast component (<0.3 ps), which is due to quasifree water at the surface/exposed region. With an increase in lambda(ex), the solvation dynamics become faster. This is manifested in a decrease in the total dynamic solvent shift and an increase in the contribution of the ultrafast component (<0.3 ps). At a long lambda(ex) (435 nm), the surface (exposed region) of a micelle/vesicle is probed, where the solvation dynamics of the water molecules are faster than those in a buried location of the vesicle and the micelles. The time constant of anisotropy decay becomes longer with increasing lambda(ex), in both the catanionic vesicle and the ordinary micelles (SDS and DTAB). The slow rotational dynamics (anisotropy decay) in the polar region (at long lambda(ex)) may be due to the presence of ionic head groups and counter ions.

A femtosecond study of the interaction of human serum albumin with a surfactant (SDS).

The interaction of a protein, human serum albumin (HSA) with a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) was studied by femtosecond up-conversion. HSA was labeled covalently with a probe (CPM, 7-dimethylamino-3-(4-maleimidophenyl)-4-methylcoumarin). Binding of SDS to HSA is found to accelerate the solvation dynamics approximately 1.3-fold. The solvation dynamics in HSA displays two time components: 30 ps (20 %) and 800 ps (80 %). When approximately 10 SDS molecules bind to HSA the components are 15 ps (40 %) and 800 ps (60 %). It is argued that SDS may increase the solvent exposure of the probe (CPM); it may also displace the buried water molecules in the immediate vicinity of CPM.

Ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer in the micelle and the gel phase of a PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer.

Ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) to coumarin dyes is studied in the micelle and the gel phase of a triblock copolymer, (PEO)(20)-(PPO)(70)-(PEO)(20) (Pluronic P123) by picosecond and femtosecond emission spectroscopies. The rate of PET in a P123 micelle and gel is found to be nonexponential and faster than the slow components of solvation dynamics. In a P123 micelle and gel, PET occurs on multiple time scales ranging from a subpicosecond time scale to a few nanoseconds. In the gel phase, the highest rate constant (9.3 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)) of ET for C152 is about two times higher than that (3.8 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)) observed in micelle phase. The ultrafast components of electron transfer (ET) exhibits a bell shaped dependence with the free energy change which is similar to the Marcus inversion. Possible reasons for slower PET in P123 micelle compared to other micelles and relative to P123 gel are discussed.

Solvation dynamics in ionic liquid swollen p123 triblock copolymer micelle: a femtosecond excitation wavelength dependence study.

Femtosecond solvation dynamics of coumarin 480 (C480) in a mixed micelle is reported. The mixed micelle consists of a triblock copolymer (PEO)20-(PPO) 70-(PEO)20 (Pluronic P123) and an ionic liquid (IL), 1-pentyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([pmim][BF4]). At a low concentration (0.3 M), the sparingly water soluble IL ([pmim][BF4]) penetrates the hydrophobic PPO core of the P123 micelles. Thus emission maximum of C480 in the core (accessed at lambdaex=375 nm) in 0.3 M IL is red-shifted by 8 nm from that in its absence and the red edge excitation shift (REES) is large (19+/-1 nm). At a high concentration (0.9 M), the ionic liquid [pmim][BF4] invades both the core and corona region and the mixed micelle exhibits very small REES (3+/-1 nm). Anisotropy decay and solvation dynamics in different regions of the mixed micelle are studied by variation of excitation wavelength (lambda ex). In P123 micelle, the average rotational time () is 2800 ps in the core (at lambdaex=375 nm) and 1350 ps in the corona region (at lambdaex=435 nm). In 0.3 M [pmim][BF4], tau rot at the core of the mixed micelle decreases to 1950 ps while that in the corona remains unaffected. In 0.9 M IL, both the core and corona (lambda ex=375 and 435 nm) exhibit similar and short approximately 600 ps. In 0.3 M IL, solvation dynamics in the core region (lambdaex=375 nm) of P123 micelle is about 2 times faster than in its absence. In 0.3 M IL, solvation dynamics in the corona region (lambdaex=435 nm) is approximately 100 times faster than that in the core. In 0.9 M IL, the solvation dynamics in the core and in the corona is, respectively, approximately 9 times and 4 times faster than that in 0.3 M IL.

A femtosecond study of excitation wavelength dependence of a triblock copolymer-surfactant supramolecular assembly: (PEO)20-(PPO)70-(PEO)20 and CTAC.

Solvation dynamics and anisotropy decay of coumarin 480 (C480) in a supramolecular assembly containing a triblock copolymer, PEO20-PPO70-PEO20 (Pluronic P123) and a surfactant, CTAC (cetyl trimethylammonium chloride) are studied by femtosecond up-conversion. In a P123-CTAC complex, C480 displays a significant (22 nm) red edge excitation shift (REES) in the emission maximum as lambda ex increases from 335 to 445 nm. This suggests that the P123-CTAC aggregate is quite heterogeneous. The average rotational relaxation time (tau rot) of C480 in a P123-CTAC complex decreases by a factor of 2 from 2500 ps at lambda ex = 375 nm to 1200 ps at lambda ex = 435 nm. For lambda ex = 375 nm, the probe molecules in the buried core region of P123-CTAC are excited and the solvation dynamics displays three components, 2, 60, and 4000 ps. It is argued that insertion of CTAC in P123 micelle affects the polymer chain dynamics, and this leads to reduction of the 130 ps component of P123 micelle to 60 ps in P123-CTAC. For lambda ex = 435 nm, which selects the peripheral highly polar corona region, solvation dynamics in P123-CTAC and P123 are extremely fast with a major component of <0.3 ps ( approximately 80%) and a 2 ps ( approximately 20%) component.

Femtosecond solvation dynamics in different regions of a bile salt aggregate: excitation wavelength dependence.

Solvation dynamics of coumarin 480 (C480) in the secondary aggregate of a bile salt (sodium deoxycholate, NaDC) is studied using femtosecond up-conversion. The secondary aggregate resembles a long (approximately 40 A) hollow cylinder with a central water-filled tunnel. Different regions of the aggregate are probed by variation of the excitation wavelength (lambdaex) from 375 to 435 nm. The emission maximum of C480 displays an 8 nm red shift as the lambdaex increases from 345 to 435 nm. The 8 nm red edge excitation shift (REES) suggests that the probe (C480) is distributed over regions of varied polarity. Excitation at a short wavelength (375 nm) preferentially selects the probe molecule in the buried locations and exhibits slow dynamics with a major (84%) slow component (3500 ps) and a small (16%) contribution of the ultrafast component (2.5 ps). Excitation at lambdaex=435 nm (red end) corresponds to the exposed sites where solvation dynamics is very fast with a major (73%) ultrafast component (

Ultrafast proton transfer of pyranine in a supramolecular assembly: PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer and CTAC.

Excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) of pyranine (8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate, HPTS) is studied in a polymer-surfactant aggregate using femtosecond emission spectroscopy. The polymer-surfactant aggregate is a supramolecular assembly consisting of a triblock copolymer (PEO)(20)-(PPO)(70)-(PEO)(20) (P123) and a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). ESPT of the protonated species (HA) in HPTS leads to the formation of A(-). The dynamics of ESPT may be followed from the decay of the HA emission (at approximately 440 nm) and rise of the A(-) emission (at approximately 550 nm). Both steady-state and time-resolved studies suggest that ESPT of HPTS in P123-CTAC aggregate is much slower than that in bulk water, in P123 micelle, or in CTAC micelle. The ratio of the steady-state emission intensities (HA/A(-)) in P123-CTAC aggregate is 2.2. This ratio is approximately 50, 12, and 2 times higher than that respectively in water, in P123 micelle, and in CTAC micelle. Retardation of ESPT causes an increase in the rise time of the A(-) emission of HPTS. In P123-CTAC aggregate, A(-) displays three rise times: 30, 250, and 2400 ps. These rise times are longer than those in CTAC micelle (23, 250, and 1800 ps), in bulk water (0.3, 3, and 90 ps), and in P123 micelle (15 and 750 ps). The rate constants for initial proton transfer, recombination, and dissociation of the ion pair are estimated using a simple kinetic scheme. The slow fluorescence anisotropy decay of HPTS in P123-CTAC aggregate is analyzed in terms of the wobbling-in-cone model.

Femtosecond solvation dynamics in a neat ionic liquid and ionic liquid microemulsion: excitation wavelength dependence.

Solvation dynamics in a neat ionic liquid, 1-pentyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetra-flouroborate ([pmim][BF4]) and its microemulsion in Triton X-100 (TX-100)/benzene is studied using femtosecond up-conversion. In both the neat ionic liquid and the microemulsion, the solvation dynamics is found to depend on excitation wavelength (lambda(ex)). The lambda(ex) dependence is attributed to structural heterogeneity in neat ionic liquid (IL) and in IL microemulsion. In neat IL, the heterogeneity arises from clustering of the pentyl groups which are surrounded by a network of cation and anions. Such a nanostructural organization is predicted in many recent simulations and observed recently in an X-ray diffraction study. In an IL microemulsion, the surfactant (TX-100) molecules aggregate in form of a nonpolar peripheral shell around the polar pool of IL. The micro-environment in such an assembly varies drastically over a short distance. The dynamic solvent shift (and average solvation time) in neat IL as well as in IL microemulsions decreases markedly as lambda(ex) increases from 375 to 435 nm. In a [pmim][BF4]/water/TX-100/benzene quaternary microemulsion, the solvation dynamics is slower than that in a microemulsion without water. This is ascribed to the smaller size of the water containing microemulsion. The anisotropy decay in an IL microemulsion is found to be faster than that in neat IL.

Excitation wavelength dependence of solvation dynamics in a supramolecular assembly: PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer and SDS.

The triblock copolymer (PEO)20-(PPO)70-(PEO)20 (P123) forms a supramolecular aggregate with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The solvation dynamics and anisotropy decay of coumarin 480 (C480) in different regions of a P123-SDS aggregate are studied through variation of the excitation wavelength (lambdaex) using femtosecond upconversion. In a P123 micelle, because of the drastic differences in polarity between the hydrophilic corona region (PEO block) and the hydrophobic PPO core, C480 exhibits a pronounced red edge excitation shift (REES) of emission maximum by 24 nm. In the P123-SDS aggregate, SDS penetrates the core of the P123 micelle. This increases the polarity of the core and reduces the difference in the polarity between the core and the corona region. In a P123-SDS aggregate, the REES is much smaller (5 nm) which suggests a reduced difference between the core and the corona. Solvation dynamics in a P123 micelle displays a bulklike ultrafast component (<0.3 and 1 ps) in the PEO corona region, a 200 ps component arising from dynamics of polymer segments, and a very long component (5000 or 3000 ps) due to the highly restricted PPO core. In a P123-SDS aggregate, at lambdaex = 375 and 405 nm, the solvation dynamics is found to be faster than that in P123 micelle. In this case, the component (3000 ps) arising from the core region is faster than that (5000 ps) in P123 micelle. In both P123 micelle and P123-SDS aggregate, the relative contribution of the core region decreases and that of the corona region increases with an increase in lambdaex. At lambdaex = 435 nm, which probes the hydrophilic corona, the solvation dynamics for both P123 micelle and P123-SDS aggregate are almost similar.

Ultrafast fluorescence resonance energy transfer in the micelle and the gel phase of a PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer: excitation wavelength dependence.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from coumarin 480 (C480) to rhodamine 6G (R6G) is studied in the micelle and the gel phase of a triblock copolymer, (PEO)20-(PPO)70-(PEO)20 (Pluronic P123 (P123)) by picosecond and femtosecond emission spectroscopy. The time constants of FRET were obtained from the rise time of the acceptor (R6G) emission. In a P123 micelle, FRET occurs in multiple time scales: 2.5, 100, and 1700 ps. In the gel phase, three rise components are observed: 3, 150, and 2600 ps. According to a simple Förster model, the ultrafast (2.5 and 3 ps) components of FRET correspond to donor-acceptor distance RDA=13 +/- 2 A. The ultrafast FRET occurs between a donor and an acceptor residing at close contact at the corona (PEO) region of a P123 micelle. With increase in the excitation wavelength (lambdaex) from 375 to 435 nm, the relative contribution of the ultrafast component of FRET ( approximately 3 ps) increases from 13% to 100% in P123 micelle and from 1% to 100% in P123 gel. It is suggested that at lambdaex = 435 nm, mainly the highly polar peripheral region is probed where FRET is very fast due to close proximity of the donor and the acceptor. The 100 and 150 ps components correspond to RDA = 25 +/- 2 A and are ascribed to FRET from C480 deep inside the micelle to an acceptor (R6G) in the peripheral region. The very long component of FRET (1700 ps in micelle and 2600 ps component in gel) may arise from diffusion of the donor from outside the micelle to the interior followed by fast FRET.