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Symmetrical gemini surfactants of cationic series a,x-alkanediyl bis (dimethyl ammonium bromide) commonly referred as ''m-s-m'' have been synthesized. Spectral analysis was performed to confirm compound structures and purity. Conductivity and surface tension measurements provide better understanding of the micellization process. Their self-assembly behavior in aqueous solution is also discussed in detail. The antimicrobial efficacy was measured by bacterial and fungal growth inhibition expressed as minimal inhibitory concentration values against five strains of a representative group of microorganisms viz. Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella paratyphi B and Aspergillus niger. All of the synthesized surfactants showed antimicrobial activity against them, but at different levels depending on their structures. The surfactants possessing longer alkyl chains (more hydrophobic environment) demonstrated better antimicrobial functionality. The antimicrobial potency was found to be dependent on the representative target microorganism (Gram-positive bacteria [ fungi [ Gram-negative bacteria), as well as on the ionic nature of the surfactant (cationic), alkyl chain length (m = 12, 16) and spacer length (s = 2, 4, 6) of the synthesized compounds. Gemini surfactants such as 12-2-12 and 12-4-12 were found to be weakly active whereas 16-2-16 and 16-4-16 compounds proved to be the most potent antimicrobial surface-active agents among the synthesized gemini homologues.

Self-assembly of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in aqueous solution, in the presence of two inorganic salts viz, NaNO 3 and NaClO 3 was investigated by steady-state fluorescence, electrical conductance, surface tension, viscosity, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and cryogenic transmission microscopy (cryo-TEM). The counterions located at short enough distances to CTA ? micellar surface experience a very strong electrostatic attraction and thus become condensed. This counterion condensation plays a significant role in deciding the effective charge on the micelle, their screening interaction and structural transition of the micelles. In the present work, the probable mechanism of the salts' action in aqueous solution of CTAB is explained. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), area per molecule (Å 2 ), micelle hydrodynamic diameter (D h ), and aggregation number (N agg ) of CTAB micelles in the absence and presence of the salts are reported. The addition of both salts followed the lyotropic series and showed a remarkable decrease in CMC. A detailed investigation of the structural transitions from spherical to rod or even to entangled wormlike structures is presented from cryoTEM.

Self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers display a multiplicity of nanoscale periodic patterns proposed as a dominant tool for the ‘bottom-up’ fabrication of nanomaterials with different levels of ordering. The present review article focuses on the recent updates to the self-association of amphiphilic block copolymers in aqueous media into varied core-shell morphologies. We briefly describe the block copolymers, their types, microdomain formation in bulk and micellization in selective solvents. We also discuss the characteristic features of block copolymers nanoaggregates viz., polymer micelles (PMs) and polymersomes. Amphiphilic block copolymers (with a variety of hydrophobic blocks and hydrophilic blocks; often polyethylene oxide) self-assemble in water to micelles/niosomes similar to conventional nonionic surfactants with high drug loading capacity. Double hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBCs) made of neutral block-neutral block or neutral block-charged block can transform one block to become hydrophobic under the influence of a stimulus (physical/chemical/biological), and thus induced amphiphilicity and display self-assembly are discussed. Different kinds of polymer micelles (viz. shell and core-cross-linked, core-shell-corona, schizophrenic, crew cut, Janus) are presented in detail. Updates on polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) and crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) are also provided. Polyion complexes (PICs) and polyion complex micelles (PICMs) are discussed. Applications of these block copolymeric micelles and polymersomes as nanocarriers in drug delivery systems are described.