Thermodynamics, size, and dynamics of zwitterionic dodecylphosphocholine and anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate mixed micelles

The thermodynamic properties of micellization for dodecylphosphocholine (DPC), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and their mixtures were studied using isothermal titration calorimetry. NMR relaxation measurements were used to explore molecular mobility of the DPC-containing micelles, whereas the diffusion measurements were taken to determine the micelle size. The DPC/SDS mixed systems reveal a tendency to form two kinds of micelles in buffered solution at lower temperatures. An increase in temperature as well as the transfer of the DPC/SDS mixed micelles from buffered to unbuffered solution results in only a single-step micellization process. The average size of the DPC-containing micelles is only slightly dependent on the SDS fraction. Examination of the data of spin-spin relaxation (T (2)) shows that methylene protons on the polar headgroup of DPC and methylene protons (H1) on the hydrocarbon chain in the micellar systems studied reveal a heterogeneous dynamic behavior reflected in a two-component T (2) relaxation in the whole temperature range. The latter is the main constituent of the rigid interfacial layer core protecting the penetration of water into the hydrophobic interior.