Synthesis, Self-Assembly Properties, and Degradation Characterization of a Nonionic Photocleavable Azo-Sulfide Surfactant Family

We report the synthesis and characterization of a new family of maltose-derived nonionic surfactants that contain a photocleavable azo-sulfide linker (mAzo). The self-assembly properties of these surfactants were investigated using surface tension measurements to determine the critical micelle concentration (CMC), dynamic light scattering (DLS) to reveal the hydrodynamic radius of their self-assemblies, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to elucidate the micelle morphology. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-visible) spectroscopy confirmed the rapid photodegradation of these surfactants, but surface tension measurements of the surfactant solutions before and after degradation showed unusual degradation products. The photodegradation process was further studied using online liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS),which revealed that these surfactants can form another photo-stable surfactant post-degradation. Finally, traditionally challenging proteins from heart tissue were solubilized using the mAzo surfactants to demonstrate their potential in biological applications.

Automated summary

We synthesized and characterized a new family of maltose-derived nonionic surfactants containing a photocleavable azo-sulfide linker (mAzo). The self-assembly properties of these surfactants were studied using various techniques, including surface tension measurements, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. The photodegradation process of these surfactants was investigated, revealing the formation of a photo-stable surfactant post-degradation. Furthermore, these mAzo surfactants demonstrated potential in solubilizing challenging proteins from heart tissue.