Siloxane-based compounds with tailored surface properties for health and environment

Abstract

Functional siloxane dimmers and polymers carrying two types of hydrophilic groups (tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and 4-aminopyridyne) were previously prepared and characterized. Their surface properties were investigated by tensiometry, DLS and TEM in water or organic media. The un-modified methylsiloxane units induce hydrophobic character while the balance between the two moieties with antagonist behavior is responsible for self-assembling and surface activity, which can be tuned by adjusting the proportion of hydrophilic groups and the molecular architecture. Water soluble self-assembling functionalized siloxanes have been tested for biocompatibility by MTT method. They are efficient for stabilization of polymer nanoparticles of interest for drug delivery systems, encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs by micellar solubilization, and water dispersion of magnetic nanoparticles of interest for biomedical applications. The same compounds exhibit the ability to act as ligands for complexation of 3d and 4f –block metals, with implications in environment remediation and preparation of metallosurfactants or catalysts. In addition, pyridyl-modified siloxanes act as phase transfer agents for water soluble organic molecules. The previously reported properties and applications are summarized, compared and completed with new experiments, in order to show a broad picture of the applicative potential of these amphiphilic compounds.