A novel means of investigating the polarity gradient in the micelle sodium lauryl sulphate using a series of n-(9-anthroyloxy) fatty acids as fluorescent probes

Abstract

The fluorescence behaviour of a series of n-(9-anthroyloxy) fatty acids has been studied in saturated hydrocarbon solvents of increasing viscosity and solvents of increasing polarity. Fluorescence quenching experiments in these solvents and in micelles of sodium lauryl sulphate show that the probes locate at a graded series of depths in the micelle. The spectral characteristics of emission from the probes indicate an increasing polarity gradient from the core to the surface of the micelle.