Spontaneous Formation of Bilayers and Vesicles in Mixtures of Single-Chain Alkyl Carboxylates: Effect of pH and Aging and Cytotoxicity Studies

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Abstract

We report the observation of bilayer fragments, some of which close to form vesicles, over a large range of pH at room temp. from mixts. of single-chain biocompatible com. available nontoxic alkyl carboxylic surfactants after neutralization with HCl. The pH at which the morphol. transitions occur is varied only by changing the ratio between two surfactants: the alkyloligoethyleneoxide ...

Abstract

We report the observation of bilayer fragments, some of which close to form vesicles, over a large range of pH at room temp. from mixts. of single-chain biocompatible com. available nontoxic alkyl carboxylic surfactants after neutralization with HCl. The pH at which the morphol. transitions occur is varied only by changing the ratio between two surfactants: the alkyloligoethyleneoxide carboxylate and sodium laurate. The effect of aging of the mixed surfactant systems in the pH region desired for dermatol. application (4.5 < pH < 7) is also studied. Finally, we show results of cytotoxicity studies on the surfactant mixts.