Dynamics of small molecules within the F127 PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer gel and sol phases studied at the molecular scale

The dynamics of naphthalene derivatives with different hydrophobicities bound to F127 polyethyleneoxide-polypropyleneoxide-polyethyleneoxide (PEO-PPO-PEO) micelles in the gel and sol phases were studied using a quenching methodology for the triplet excited states of the naphthalenes. Studies with triplet excited states probe a larger reaction volume than the volumes accessible when using fluorescent singlet excited states. The use of triplet excited states enables the determination of the dynamics between different compartments of a supramolecular system, which in the case of F127 micelles are the micellar core, the micellar corona and the aqueous phase. This report includes laser flash photolysis studies for the four naphthalene derivatives in the F127 gel and sol phases. The triplet excited states were quenched using the nitrite anion as the quenchers. The association and dissociation rate constants of the naphthalenes from the micelles and the quenching rate constants for the naphthalenes bound to the micelles were determines from the curved quenching plot (observed decay rate constant vs. nitrite concentration).