Probing the micellar solubilisation and inter-micellar exchange of polyphenols using the DPPH• free radical

Encapsulation of polyphenols can be used for improving their stability and targeting. We present here a spectrophotometric method to probe the micellar solubilisation and inter-micellar exchange of polyphenols using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH center dot) free radical as a visible probe. Our method relies on the partitioning of DPPH center dot into micelles, on the reduction of DPPH center dot by polyphenols, and on the change in absorbance of DPPH center dot when reduced/oxidised. Hence, an absorbance drop at 528 nm gives evidence of the co-localisation of polyphenols and DPPH center dot in micelles. Using catechin and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SOS) as model molecules, we have shown that the reduction stoichiometry increases up to the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of SDS, where it reaches a plateau: this is due to the solubilisation of catechin in pre-micellar aggregates and then in micelles. The initial rate of reduction increases with increasing SDS concentration up to the CMC and then decreases due to a dilution effect. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.