Surface adsorption and solution aggregation of a novel lauroyl-L-carnitine surfactant

Hypothesis: L-carnitine plays a crucial role in the cellular production of energy by transporting fatty acids into mitochondria. Acylated L-carnitines are amphiphilic and if appropriate physical properties were demonstrated, they could replace many currently used surfactants with improved biocompatibility and health benefits. Experiments: This work evaluated the surface adsorption of lauroyl-L-carnitine (C12LC) and its aggregation behavior. The size and shape of the aggregates of C12LC surfactant were studied at different temperatures, concentrations, pH and ionic strength by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Surface tension measurements were carried out to determine the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of C12LC. Combining with the Gibbs equation, the surface excess at different concentrations could be determined. Neutron reflection (NR) was used to determine the structure of the adsorbed layer at the air/water interface with the help of isotopic contrast variations. Findings: At pH 7, the limiting area per molecule (A(CMC)) of the zwitterionic C12LC adsorbed layer at the air/water interface was found to be 46 angstrom(2) from surface tension and neutron reflection, smaller than the values of C12PC, C12E5, DTAB, C(12)C(4)betaine and C(12)C(8)betaine but close to that of SDS. A pronounced surface tension minimum at pH 2 at the low ionic strength was linked to a minimum value of area per molecule of about 30 angstrom(2), indicating the competitive adsorption from traces of lauric acid produced by hydrolysis of C12LC. As the concentration increased, area per molecule reached a plateau of 37-39 angstrom(2), indicating the dissolution of the more surface-active lauric acid into the micelles of C12LC. DLS and SANS showed that the size and shape of micelles had little response to temperature, concentration, ionic strength or pH. The SANS profiles measured under 3 isotopic contrasts could be well fitted by the core-shell model, giving a spherical core radius of 15.7 angstrom and a shell thickness of 10.5 angstrom. The decrease of pH led to more protonated carboxyl groups and more positively charged micelles, but the micellar structures remained unchanged, in spite of their stronger interaction. These features make C12LC potentially attractive as a solubilizing agent. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

The study suggests that L-carnitine may serve as an attractive solubilizing agent due to its suitable physical properties and biocompatibility. Experimental results demonstrate that the surface adsorption and aggregation behavior of C12LC show minimal variations under different conditions.