Unveiling Synergistic Bonds: Exploring Spectroscopic Interactions between Tween 20 and Bromocresol Green for Enhanced Applications

Abstract

Background: Surfactants and dyes interact in ways that can significantly alter the optical properties of solutions, a phenomenon with broad implications across various scientific fields, including healthcare. Understanding these interactions, especially in aqueous environments, is crucial for developing advanced diagnostic tools and enhancing drug delivery systems. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the interactions between the non-ionic surfactant Tween 20 and the dye Bromocresol Green (BCG) in aqueous solutions. By elucidating these interactions, the research sought to explore the potential for improving the accuracy and efficiency of spectroscopic assays used in medical diagnostics and therapeutic applications. Methods: Aqueous solutions of BCG were prepared in varying concentrations of Tween 20 surfactant. Spectroscopic analyses were conducted at two wavelengths, 510 nm and 520 nm, to observe the effects of surfactant concentration on dye absorbance. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was determined by analyzing changes in absorbance and reciprocal absorbance (1/A) patterns. Beer’s Law was applied to calculate the molar absorption coefficients, providing a quantitative measure of the interaction strength between the dye and surfactant molecules. Results: The study found that the absorbance of BCG increased linearly with the concentration of Tween 20 up to the CMC, after which the increase continued at a different rate. At 510 nm, absorbance values ranged from 0.277 to 1.627 au as Tween 20 concentration increased from 0.005 mM to 0.017 mM, with molar absorption coefficients (ε) escalating from 0.483 to 2.839 (10^3 cm^2 mmol^-1). Similar trends were observed at 520 nm, underscoring the impact of micelle formation on dye-surfactant interactions. Conclusion: The interaction between Tween 20 and BCG significantly affects the absorbance properties of BCG in aqueous solutions, with marked changes observed upon reaching the CMC. These findings highlight the potential of surfactant-dye interactions to enhance the performance of spectroscopic assays in healthcare settings, offering pathways to more sensitive diagnostic techniques and efficient drug delivery systems.