Volume 55, Issue 2 pp. 768-771
Communication

Measurement of Local Sodium Ion Levels near Micelle Surfaces with Fluorescent Photoinduced-Electron-Transfer Sensors

Dr. Seiichi Uchiyama

Corresponding Author

Dr. Seiichi Uchiyama

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AG (Northern Ireland)

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AG (Northern Ireland)Search for more papers by this author
Eiko Fukatsu

Eiko Fukatsu

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

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Dr. Gareth D. McClean

Dr. Gareth D. McClean

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AG (Northern Ireland)

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Prof. A. Prasanna de Silva

Corresponding Author

Prof. A. Prasanna de Silva

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AG (Northern Ireland)

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AG (Northern Ireland)Search for more papers by this author
First published: 27 October 2015
Citations: 37

Graphical Abstract

The local Na+ concentration near an anionic tetramethylammonium dodecyl sulfate (TMADS) micelle surface was determined with new fluorescent photoinduced electron transfer (PET) sensors. Electrostatic interactions with the negatively charged sulfonate groups of the surfactant induce an increase in the Na+ concentration compared with bulk water.

Abstract

The Na+ concentration near membranes controls our nerve signals aside from several other crucial bioprocesses. Fluorescent photoinduced electron transfer (PET) sensor molecules target Na+ ions in nanospaces near micellar membranes with excellent selectivity against H+. The Na+ concentration near anionic micelles was found to be higher than that in bulk water by factors of up to 160. Sensor molecules that are not held tightly to the micelle surface only detected a Na+ amplification factor of 8. These results were strengthened by the employment of control compounds whose PET processes are permanently “on” or “off”.

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