Fluorescence studies of polymer–surfactant association

Abstract

Fluorescence spectroscopy has been successfully used for the study of central issues of solutions of surfactants and associating polymers. Different fluorescence techniques and methods are uniquely adapted to investigate problems in this field and can, by using extrinsic or intrinsic probes, provide information on molecular association, microstructure and molecular dynamics. This constitutes an important contribution to the understanding and control of macroscopic properties, as well as to their biological functions and technical applications. Important aspects of these mixed systems, related to their self-assembly, are: formation of micelles and hydrophobic microdomains in general; size and shape of surfactant molecular aggregates; formation and stability of vesicles; intra- vs. intermolecular association in polymers; conformational changes in polymers as affected by polymer–surfactant association; surfactant organization in adsorbed layers; kinetic aspects of the formation and disintegration of self-assembly structures; residence times of molecules in microdomains and migration of active molecules. Some of these issues will be addressed in this paper.