Bottom-Up Cubosome Synthesis Without Organic Solvents

This dataset contains processed SAXS data for mixtures of phytantriol with different diluents, and also following bottom-up synthesis of cubosomes. This data was collected to demonstrate the phase formations of phytantriol under different conditions.SAXS data was collected on an Anton-Parr SAXSpoint 2.0.SAXS data was collected on an Anton-Parr SAXSpoint 2.0, using an SDD of 556.9mm. The instrument is known to have a single dead pixel which sometimes results in an anomolous single-point peak

Nanostructure in Amphiphile-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are an emerging class of modern, often “green” solvents with unique properties. Recently, a deep eutectic system based on amphiphilic surfactant N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (C12 & C14 sulfobetaine) and (1S)-(+)-10-camphor-sulfonic acid in the molar ratio 1:1.5 has been reported. Nanostructuring can be expected in this DES due to the nature of the components. In this work, we have investigated the native nanostructure in the DES comprising C12–C18 alkyl chain sulfobetaines with camphor sulfonic acid and how it interacts with polar and nonpolar species, water and dodecane, respectively, using small angle neutron scattering. By using contrast variation to highlight the relative position of the solvent components and additives, we can resolve the structure of the solvent and how it changes upon interaction with water and dodecane. Scattering from the neat DES shows structures corresponding to the self-assembly of sulfobetaines; the size of the structure increases as the alkyl chain length of the sulfobetaines increases. Water and dodecane interact, respectively, with the hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties in the DES structure, primarily the sulfobetaine, thereby swelling and solvating the entire structure. The extent of the shift of the peak position, and the swelling, depend on concentration of the additive. The solution phase organization and the interaction of polar and nonpolar species as observed here, have the potential to affect the ordering of inorganic or polymeric materials grown in such solvents, paving new avenues for templating applications

Facile synthesis of metal-organic framework films via in situ seeding of nanoparticles

A facile in situ nanoparticle seeding method is reported to prepare MIL-101(Cr) films on alumina supports. The in situ seeding of MIL-101(Cr) nanoparticles was promoted by use of dimethylacetamide (DMA). The generality of this approach is further demonstrated for Cu 3(btc) 2 films by using a (poly)acrylate promoter

Decyltrimethylammonium bromide micelles in acidic solutions:counterion binding, water structuring and micelle shape

Wide-angle neutron scattering experiments combined with empirical potential structural refinement modeling have been used to study the detailed structure of decyl­trimethyl­ammonium bromide micelles in the presence of acid solutions of HCl or HBr. These experiments demonstrate considerable variation in micelle structure and water structuring between micelles in the two acid solutions and in comparison with the same micelles in pure water. In the presence of the acids, the micelles are smaller; however, in the presence of HCl the micelles are more loosely structured and disordered while in the presence of HBr the micelles are more compact and closer to spherical. Bromide ions bind strongly to the micelle surface in the HBr solution, while in HCl solutions, ion binding to the micelle is similar to that found in pure water. The hydration numbers of the anions and extent of counterion binding follow the predictions of the Hofmeister series for these species

Keratin-Chitosan Microcapsules via Membrane Emulsification and Interfacial Complexation

[Image: see text] The continuous fabrication via membrane emulsification of stable microcapsules using renewable, biodegradable biopolymer wall materials keratin and chitosan is reported here for the first time. Microcapsule formation was based on opposite charge interactions between keratin and chitosan, which formed polyelectrolyte complexes when solutions were mixed at pH 5.5. Interfacial complexation was induced by transfer of keratin-stabilized primary emulsion droplets to chitosan solution, where the deposition of chitosan around droplets formed a core–shell structure. Capsule formation was demonstrated both in batch and continuous systems, with the latter showing a productivity up to 4.5 million capsules per minute. Keratin–chitosan microcapsules (in the 30–120 μm range) released less encapsulated nile red than the keratin-only emulsion, whereas microcapsules cross-linked with glutaraldehyde were stable for at least 6 months, and a greater amount of cross-linker was associated with enhanced dye release under the application of force due to increased shell brittleness. In light of recent bans involving microplastics in cosmetics, applications may be found in skin-pH formulas for the protection of oils or oil-soluble compounds, with a possible mechanical rupture release mechanism (e.g., rubbing on skin)