Phases In Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography Research Articles

Drug affinity to human serum albumin prediction by retention of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide pseudostationary phase in micellar electrokinetic chromatography and chemically advanced template search descriptors

The development of high-throughput methods for the estimation of physicochemical and biological properties of drug candidates is highly desired in the pharmaceutical landscape. Affinity to plasma protein is one of the most important biological properties, which should be taken under concern during the design and assessment of future potential medicines. The main goal of this study was to develop a quantitative retention-activity relationship model, with rationalized in vivo and in silico approach to predict the affinity to human serum albumin (HSA), which is one of the most important plasma proteins. To achieve this goal, a set of 27 chemically diverse drugs with known affinity to HSA were analyzed by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The proposed model for HSA affinity assessment was based on retention in hexadecyltrimethylmonium bromide (CTAB) pseudostationary phase and chemically advanced template search (CATS) pharmacophore descriptors. The comparison of various regression methods, namely multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least squares regression (PLS), orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS), and support vector machine (SVM) were performed to develop a model with highest predictability. The obtained models are suitable for the prediction of drug affinity to human serum albumin using retention factor determined by MEKC and CATS descriptors, and only slightly differ in terms of coefficients of determination, Q2 value calculated using leave-one-out cross-validation technique and root-mean-squared error of cross-validation (RMSECV) as well as root-mean-square error in prediction (RMSEP) obtained by external validation.

Characterization and Classification of Pseudo-Stationary Phases in Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography Using Chemometric Methods

Two types of chemometric methods, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis, are employed to characterize and classify a total of 70 pseudostationary phases (54 distinct systems and 16 decoy systems) in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). PCA excels at removing redundant information for micellar phase characterization and retaining principal determinants for phase classification. While PCA is useful in the characterization of micelle selectivities, it is ineffective in defining the grouping of micellar phases. Hierarchical clustering yields a complete dendrogram of cluster structures but provides only limited cluster characterizations. The combination of these two chemometric methods leads to a comprehensive interpretation of the micellar phase classification. Moreover, the k-means analysis can further discern subtle differences among those closely located micellar phases. All three chemometric methods result in similar classifications with respect to the similarities and differences of the 70 micelle systems investigated. These systems are categorized into 3 major clusters: fluoro-surfactants represent cluster I, identified as strong hydrogen bond donors and dipolar but weak hydrogen bond acceptors. Cluster II includes sulfonated acrylamide/acrylate copolymers and surfactants with trimethylammonium head groups, characterized by strong hydrophobicity (v) and weak hydrogen bond acidity (b). The last cluster consists of two subclusters: clusters III and IV. Cluster III includes siloxane-based polymeric micelles, exhibiting weak hydrophobicity and medium hydrogen bond acidity and basicity (a), and the cluster IV micellar systems are characterized by their strong hydrophobicity and medium hydrogen bond acidity and basicity but rather weak dipolarity. Cluster III differs from cluster IV by its slightly weaker hydrophobicity and hydrogen bond donating capability. The classification by chemometric methods is in good agreement with the classification by the micellar selectivity triangle (MST) ( Fu, C.; Khaledi, M. G. J. Chromatogr., A 2009 , 1216 , 1891 - 1900 ).

Imidazolium-based ionic liquid-type surfactant as pseudostationary phase in micellar electrokinetic chromatography of highly hydrophilic urinary nucleosides

Ionic liquid (IL)-type surfactants have been shown to interact more strongly with polar compounds than traditionally used quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants. The aim of this study is to provide an alternative micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method (MEKC) for the analysis of urinary nucleosides in their ionic form at low surfactant concentration. This approach could overcome the use of high surfactant concentrations typically associated with the analysis of these highly hydrophilic metabolites as neutral species, which is frequently accompanied by high electric current, Joule heating and long analysis time. The investigated IL-type surfactant; 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (C14MImBr) is similar to the commonly employed cationic surfactant; tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) but it provides a different separation selectivity. We employed C14MImBr micelles for the MEKC analysis of seven urinary nucleosides. The studied analytes possess a negative charge at pH 9.38 (exceptions are adenosine and cytidine which are neutral at this pH value). Borate imparts an additional negative charge to these compounds after complexation with the cis-diol functionality of the ribose unit, which in turn enables them to interact with the oppositely charged C14MImBr micelles via electrostatic (Coulomb) forces. The effect of the concentration of borate (the complexing, competing and buffering ion) on the effective electrophoretic mobilities and on the retention factors was investigated. The effective electrophoretic mobility data show that complexation between these nucleosides and borate occurs with high degree of complexation even at very low borate concentration (2.5mmolL−1 disodium tetraborate). In addition, we found that the retention factors are strongly dependent on the borate concentration being the highest when using the lowest borate concentration and they can be regulated by variation of either tetraborate concentration or the pH of the background electrolyte using only 20mmolL−1 C14MImBr. We confirmed also that the main mode of interaction between these analytes and the C14MImBr micelles is electrostatic interaction. Our experimental results reveal that the cationic surfactant C14MImBr exhibits superior selectivity and higher reproducibility relative to that of TTAB, which makes this surfactant a promising cationic surfactant for the MEKC separation of other hydrophilic polar analytes.

Characterization and application of molecular binary mixed molecular micelles of sodium 10-undecenyl sulfate and sodium N-undecenyl leucinate as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Poly (sodium 10-undecenyl sulfate) (poly SUS), poly (sodium 10-undecenyl leucinate) (poly SUL), and their five molecular binary mixed micelles with varied SUS:SUL composition were prepared. The purity of these molecular micelles was confirmed by elemental analysis. Their partial specific volume, aggregation number, methylene selectivity, polarity, phase ratio, mobility, and elution window values were determined using a variety of analytical techniques. These molecular micelles were then evaluated as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) for separation of benzene derivatives with a wide range of chemical properties. Elemental analysis results reveal that the ratio of the two surfactants in the binary mixture does not change significantly during the polymerization process. Poly SUS was found to have the lowest partial specific volume and it increases gradually with an increase of SUL mole fraction. Poly SUL was found to provide the most hydrophobic environment for test solutes. Based on the retention results, the strength of interaction between the molecular micelles and the analytes was found to follow the following order: NHB>HBA>HBD. This order indicates that the hydrophobic interaction plays a major role in retention of benzene derivatives.

Study of chemical selectivity of molecular binary mixed micelles of sodium 10-undecenyl sulfate and sodium N-undecenyl leucinate using linear solvation energy relationships model

Poly(sodium 10-undecenyl sulfate) (poly-SUS), poly(sodium N-undecenyl leucinate) (poly-SUL) and their five molecular binary mixed micelles with varied SUS:SUL composition were prepared and used as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Linear solvation energy relationships (LSERs) model and free energy of transfer studies were used to characterize the retention behavior and the selectivity differences among the seven surfactant systems. System constant differences and regression models for varied benzene derivative compounds are used to establish the selectivity differences of the seven pseudostationary phases. The cavity formation and dispersion interaction (the v system constant) and the hydrogen-bonding acidity (the b system constant) of the surfactant systems were found to have the most significant influence on selectivity and MEKC retention. The molecular micelle with sulfate head group, poly-SUS, was found to be more hydrogen-bond acidic than the molecular micelle with leucinate head group, poly-SUL. The other system constants (a, s and e) have modest effect on the retention and selectivity of the benzene derivatives. The model intercept coefficients (c system constants), which are negative for all surfactant systems have unusually large values. The free energy changes of transfer for the functional groups studied have all negative values except phenol and benzyl alcohol. Selectivity differences between pseudostationary phases were also compared by plotting the log k values against each other and were found to agree well with LSER results.

Cationic gemini surfactants as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Part I: Effect of head group

Two cationic gemini surfactants with pyrrolidinium or alkyl ammonium head groups with but-2-yne spacers, but with the same length hydrocarbon chain have been characterized with respect to their aggregation behaviors and separation power as pseudostationary phases (PSPs) for micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). They were compared with a commonly used PSP, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). The results suggest that the head groups of the surfactants have some effect on physicochemical properties such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), C 20, γ CMC, partial specific volume, methylene selectivity and mobilities of the surfactants. CMC values of G1, G2 and SDS in pure water were found to be 0.82, 0.71, and 8.08 mM, respectively; they were reduced to 0.21, 0.11, and 3.0 mM when measured in 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.0. G1 ( α C H 2 = 2.74 ) and G2 ( α C H 2 = 2.48 ) provided the most and the least hydrophobic environment, respectively. According to their partial specific volumes, geminis were found to have more flexible structures as compared with sodium dodecylsulfate. The effects of the head group structure were also characterized with the linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) model, which was able to evaluate the role of solute size, polarity/polarizability, and hydrogen bonding on retention and selectivity. The cohesiveness, hydrogen bond acidic and basic character of the surfactant systems were found to have the most significant influence on selectivity and MEKC retention of the gemini surfactants. It should be noted that with their large positive coefficient a values, G1 and G2 were found to be stronger HB acceptors than anionic and most of the cationic surfactants studied in the literature.

Binary mixed micelles of chiral sodium undecenyl leucinate and achiral sodium undecenyl sulfate: I. Characterization and application as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Sodium 10-undecenyl sulfate (SUS), sodium 10-undecenyl leucinate (SUL) and their five different mixed micelles at varied percent mole ratios were prepared. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), C 20, γ CMC, partial specific volume, methylene group selectivity, mobilities and elution window were determined using a variety of analytical techniques. These surfactant systems were then evaluated as novel pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). As a commonly used pseudostationary phase in MEKC, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was also evaluated. The CMC values of SUS and SUL were found to be 26 and 16 mM, respectively, whereas the CMC of mixed surfactants was found to be very similar to that of SUL. The C 20 values decreased dramatically as the concentration of SUL is increased in the mixed micelle. An increase in SUL content gradually increased the methylene group selectivity making the binary mixed surfactants more hydrophobic. Linear solvation energy relationships (LSERs) and free energy of transfer studies were also applied to predict the selectivity differences between the surfactant systems. The cohesiveness and the hydrogen bond acidic character of the surfactant systems were found to have the most significant influence on selectivity and MEKC retention. The SUS and SDS showed the strongest while SUL showed the weakest hydrogen bond donating capacity. The basicity, interaction with n and π-electrons of the solute and dipolarity/polarizability were the least significant factors in LSER model for the surfactant systems studied. Free energies of transfer of selected functional groups in each surfactant systems were also calculated and found to be in good agreement with the LSER data.

Micellar electrophoresis using ionic liquids

In this study, ionic liquid based cationic surfactants were evaluated as pseudo-stationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The aggregation behaviour of long-chain (C 12 and C 14) alkylimidazolium ionic liquids in water and aqueous phosphate buffer was investigated by spectrophotometry. The critical micelle concentrations of these salts were determined and compared to those of tetradecyl- and dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride, salts commonly used in capillary electrophoresis. The practical utilization of a new type of surfactant in MEKC was evaluated by introducing an ionic liquid into the running aqueous buffer to separate neutral analytes-methylresorcinol isomers and benzene derivatives.

Linear solvation energy relationships of anionic dimeric surfactants in micellar electrokinetic chromatography: II. Effect of the length of a hydrophilic spacer

Anionic dimeric surfactants with hydrophilic spacers containing two to six oxygen atoms were synthesized and applied as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Their selectivity was determined via linear solvation energy relationships. There were no differences in cohesiveness, polarizability or dipolarity with increasing spacer length, but there was a clear trend in increasing hydrogen bond accepting ability, and a concomitant decrease in hydrogen bond donating ability. The different selectivity of these dimeric surfactants compared to sodium dodecylsulfate can be useful for optimizing separations of mixtures of solutes for which these types of interactions are important. Their critical micelle concentrations were in the range of 0.2–0.3 mM, except for the surfactant with the shortest spacer (<0.03 mM), and are much lower than those of conventional surfactants used in micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

Application of Protein-Liposome Conjugate as a Pseudo-Stationary Phase in Capillary Electrophoresis

Liposomes have very similar structure to cell plasma membranes. Using liposomes as stationary phase in liquid chromatography (LC) or micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) has been demonstrated to be a good, dynamic method for the study of the interaction between cell membranes and important biomolecules. There has been no report on integrating plasma membrane proteins with phospholipids as pseudo-stationary phase in MEKC. In this paper, a novel mode of capillary electrophoresis (CE) is developed, that is, protein-liposome conjugate. This protein-liposome biomimetic membrane is demonstrated for the first time to be applicable as pseudo-stationary phase in MEKC. The protein is able to significantly improve chromatographic performance and stability. The experimental phenomena are further confirmed in terms of specific capacity factors and free binding energy. This new CE mode is used to investigate the interaction between dopamine transporter and dopamine-nomifensine.

Enantioselectivity of vesicle-forming chiral surfactants in capillary electrophoresis: Role of the surfactant headgroup structure

Two vesicle-forming single-tailed amino acid derivatized surfactants sodium N-[4- n-dodecyloxybenzoyl]- l-leucinate (SDLL) and sodium N-[4- n-dodecyloxybenzoyl]- l-isoleucinate (SDLIL) have been synthesized and used as pseudo-stationary phase in micellar electrokinetic chromatography to evaluate the role of steric factor of amino acid headgroup and hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions for enantiomeric separations. The aggregation behavior of the surfactants has been studied in aqueous buffered solution using surface tension and fluorescence probe techniques. Results of these studies have suggested formation of vesicles in aqueous solutions. Microenvironment of the vesicle, which determines the depth of penetration of the analytes into vesicle was determined by fluorescence probe technique using pyrene, N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (NPN), and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) as probe molecules. Atropisomeric compounds (±)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BOH), (±)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine (BDA), (±)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diylhydrogen phosphate (BNP) and Tröger's base (TB) and chiral compound benzoin (BZN) has been enantioseparated. The separations were optimized with respect to surfactant concentration, pH, and borate buffer concentration. SDLL was found to provide better resolution for BOH, BNP, and BZN. On the other hand, SDLIL offers better resolution for BDA. The chromatographic results have been discussed in the light of the aggregation behavior of the surfactants and the interaction of the solutes with the vesicles.

Behavior of Humic Acid as a Micellar Phase in Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography (MEKC)

The possibility of humic acids acting as micellar phase in micellar electrokinetic chromatography was evaluated. We investigated the separation of naphthalene in capillary electrophoresis using various samples of humic acids as micellar phase under different pH conditions, concentrations of humic acid, and temperature. The humic acid samples studied were from different origins including peat, vermicompost and a commercial sample acquired from Aldrich. Methanol was used as a marker for the electroosmotic flow. The results indicate that the formation of micelle depends on the number and nature of the hydrophobic association sites in an aqueous humic acid solution and on the origin and concentration of the humic acid at a defined pH. At lower pH values, the possibility of the humic acid molecule forming pseudomicelles increases due to a combination of neutralized and dissociated charged sites.

Critical micelle concentration of surfactants in aqueous buffered and unbuffered systems

Critical micelle concentration (CMC) of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), lithium perfluorooctanesulfonate (LPFOS), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB), tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB), and sodium cholate (SC), surfactants commonly used as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), have been determined by means of three different methods: MEKC, spectrophotometry, and conductometry. Determinations have been performed in water, and also in different concentrations of phosphate buffer at pH 7.0. CMC values ranging from 8.08 (water) to 1.99 (50 mM phosphate buffer) mM for SDS, from 7.16 (water) to 2,81 (30 mM phosphate buffer) mM for LPFOS, from 3.77 (water) to 1.93 (20 mM phosphate buffer) mM for TTAB, from 0.91 (water) to ∼0.34 (20 mM phosphate buffer) for HTAB, and around 13 mM (20 mM phosphate buffer) for SC, are obtained. The effect of the electrolyte concentration on the CMC, as well as the linear relationship between the electrolyte counter-ion concentration and the CMC are discussed. This linear relationship provides an easy way for users to estimate the CMC of a MEKC system, at a given electrolyte concentration. A comparison between experimental methods, as well as a discussion about the suitability of a given method for the determination of the CMC for a given surfactant system is also provided.

The selectivity in MEKC of pseudo-stationary phases based on polyelectrolyte complexes: I. composition of the complex

Polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes (PSC) of polycarboxylic acids with alkyl-trimethylammonium salts look very promising as a new type of pseudo-stationary phase in micellar electrokinetic chromatography. PSC produce an intramolecular micellar phase, and the morphology of the micelles is significantly different from that of the corresponding "typical" surfactant micelles. Pseudo-stationary phases based on PSC have unique selectivity. In this paper, the effect of the composition (phi) of the PSC of polyacrylic acid (PAA) M(W) 130,000 with dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and of the PSC of PAA M(W) 450,000 with DTAB on the separation of DNS-amino acids and phenol derivatives in these systems was investigated. Relative retention and relative selectivity were used to describe the electrophoretic behavior of the amino acids and phenol derivatives. The main advantage of PSC pseudo-phases is that the nature and the structure of micelle-like units, and hence the selectivity of electrophoretic separation, could easily be modified by changing the composition of the complex.

Monomeric and polymeric anionic gemini surfactants and mixed surfactant systems in micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Part I: Characterization and application as novel pseudostationary phases

Sodium di(undecenyl) tartarate monomer (SDUT), a vesicle-forming amphiphilic compound possessing two hydrophilic carboxylate head groups and two hydrophobic undecenyl chains gemini surfactant, was prepared and polymerized to form a polymeric gemini surfactant (i.e., poly-SDUT). These anionic surfactant systems with carboxylate (SDUT and poly-SDUT) and sulfate (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) head groups as well as mixed surfactant systems (SDS/SDUT, SDS/poly-SDUT, and SDUT/poly-SDUT) were then applied as novel pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The SDUT and poly-SDUT were characterized using various analytical techniques. Retention factors of 36 benzene derivatives were calculated in 20 mM phosphate buffer of each surfactant system. The retention factor values of the test solutes show that there are distinctive selectivity differences between the surfactant systems. Solute-pseudostationary phase interactions in MEKC were also examined by determining the free energy of transfer of the substituted functional groups from the aqueous buffer phase into the pseudostationary phase.

Monomeric and polymeric anionic gemini surfactants and mixed surfactant systems in micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Part II: Characterization of chemical selectivity using two linear solvation energy relationship models

Sodium di(undecenyl) tartarate monomer (SDUT), a vesicle-forming amphiphilic compound possessing two hydrophilic carboxylate headgroups and two hydrophobic undecenyl chains, was prepared and polymerized to form a polymeric vesicle (i.e., poly-SDUT). The anionic surfactants of SDUT and poly-SDUT (carboxylate head group) and sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS (sulfate head groups) as well as mixed surfactant systems (SDS/SDUT, SDS/poly-SDUT, and SDUT/poly-SDUT) were applied as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Two linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) models, i.e., solvatochromic and solvation parameter models, were successfully applied to investigate the effect of the type and composition of pseudostationary phases on the retention mechanism and selectivity in MEKC. The solvatochromic and solvation parameter models were used to help understand the fundamental nature of the solute-pseudostationary phase interactions and to characterize the properties of the pseudostationary phases (e.g., solute size and hydrogen bond-accepting ability for all pseudostationary phases). The solute types were found to have a significant effect on the LSER system coefficients and on the predicted retention factors. Although both LSER models provide the same information, the solvation parameter model is found to provide much better results both statistically and chemically than the solvatochromic model.

Characterization and application of sodium di(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate and sodium di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate surfactants as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Sodium di(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (DOSS) and sodium di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (NaDEHP) surfactants, with double alkyl chains and negatively charged headgroups, were characterized using fluorescence quenching, densitometry, and tensiometry techniques to determine their aggregation number, partial specific volume, and critical aggregation concentration. These two surfactants were then applied as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) for separations of alkyl phenyl ketones. The aggregation number of NaDEHP was found to be more than two-fold higher than that of DOSS. The partial specific volumes of NaDEHP and DOSS were found to be 0.9003 and 0.8371 mL/g, respectively. The critical aggregation concentrations are 5.12 and 1.80 mM for NaDEHP and DOSS, respectively. The DOSS surfactant provided a wider separation window and had a greater hydrophobic environment than the NaDEHP surfactant under the MEKC experimental conditions studied.

Cationic vesicles as chiral selector for enantioseparations of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A vesicle-forming chiral cationic surfactant (1R,2S)-(−)-N-dodecyl-N-methyl-ephedrinium bromide was evaluated as a pseudo-stationary phase in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) for enantioseparation of eight non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs e.g., carprofen, flurbiprofen, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, indoprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen and suprofen by capillary electrophoresis. The effects of varying experimental conditions such as pH and concentration of surfactant in the running buffer on the enantiomer separation of the drugs are reported. A mixture of five of the above drugs was separated and each enantiomeric pair was also separated simultaneously in a single run by use of the surfactant. The strong electrostatic interactions between the analytes and the vesicles seemed to have a major role in the enantiomeric separation of the profens.

Cationic vesicles as chiral selector for enantioseparations of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A vesicle-forming chiral cationic surfactant (1 R,2 S)-(−)- N-dodecyl- N-methyl-ephedrinium bromide was evaluated as a pseudo-stationary phase in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) for enantioseparation of eight non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs e.g., carprofen, flurbiprofen, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, indoprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen and suprofen by capillary electrophoresis. The effects of varying experimental conditions such as pH and concentration of surfactant in the running buffer on the enantiomer separation of the drugs are reported. A mixture of five of the above drugs was separated and each enantiomeric pair was also separated simultaneously in a single run by use of the surfactant. The strong electrostatic interactions between the analytes and the vesicles seemed to have a major role in the enantiomeric separation of the profens.

Polymeric sulfated surfactants with varied hydrocarbon tail: I. Synthesis, characterization, and application in micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

The influence of surfactant hydrocarbon tail on the solute/pseudostationary phase interactions was examined. Four anionic sulfated surfactants with 8-, 9-, 10-, and 11-carbon chains having a polymerizable double bond at the end of the hydrocarbon chain were synthesized and characterized before and after polymerization. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), polarity, and aggregation number of the four sodium alkenyl sulfate (SAIS) surfactants were determined using fluorescence spectroscopy. The partial specific volume of the polymeric SAIS (poly-SAIS) surfactants was estimated by density measurements and capillary electrophoresis (CE) was employed for determination of methylene selectivity as well as for elution window. The CMC of the monomers of SAIS surfactants decrease with increase in chain length and correlated well when fluorescence method was compared to CE. The physicochemical properties (partial specific volume, methylene selectivity, electrophoretic mobility, and elution window) increased with an increase in chain length. However, no direct relationship was found between the aggregation number and the length of hydrophobic tail of poly-SAIS surfactants. These polymeric surfactants were then used as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) to study the retention behavior and selectivity factor of 36 benzene derivatives with different chemical characteristics. Although variation in chain length of the polymeric surfactants significantly affects the retention of nonhydrogen bonding (NHB) benzene derivatives, these effects were less pronounced for hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and hydrogen bond donor (HBD) benzene derivatives. Therefore, hydrophobicity of poly-SAIS surfactants was found to be a major driving force for retention of NHB derivatives. However, for several benzene derivatives (NHB, HBA, and HBD) significantly higher selectivity factor was observed with longest chain polymeric surfactant (e.g., poly(sodium 10-undecenyl sulfate), poly-SUS) compared to shorter chain polymeric surfactant (e.g., poly(sodium 7-octenyl sulfate), poly-SOcS). In addition, the effect of the surfactant hydrophobic chain was also found to have some impact on migration order of NHB, HBA, and HBD benzene derivatives.