Bolaamphiphiles, applications

Recent reports on monomeric and polymerized bolaamphiphiles1 provide evidence for their potential application in the broader field of molecular organizates (1,2). Thus monomeric bolaamphiphiles have been employed in the formation of monolayer lipid membranes or vesicles (1-3). formation of micelles (4-5) and also for spanning bilayer membranes (1-6) The latter process has resulted in the stabilization of membranes. 

Amphiphiles, molecules possessing both hydrophilic (head group) and lipophilic (tail group) moieties,1 have formed the cornerstone of work on structure and functional application of micelles and membranes. One logical modification of the amphiphilic structure would simply be the addition of a second hydrophilic group to the other end of the lipophilic moiety to form the novel class of surfactants called bolaamphiphiles.2... 

In order to realize practical applications of these complex LC phases, for example to organize ji-conjugated aromatics into functional organic electronic devices [153-156], series oligothiophene-based bolaamphiphiles are studied [157-159]. Because oligothiophenes are an interesting class of organic semiconductors... 

Surfactants, Renewable resources. Carbohydrates, Polyols, Oils, Fats, Cationic emulsifiers, Gemini, Bolaamphiphiles synthesis. Surface propraties. Applications... 

The potential applications of bolaamphiphiles include the formation of monolayer vesicles for drug/gene delivery, ultra thin monolayer membranes, inclusion of functionalities into membranes, and disruption of biological membranes [59a]. 

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