Assembly Mechanism of Fibrous Gemini Surfactant Gels

Building from experimental kinetic work already carried out, we will investigate the initial steps in the assembly mechanism of gemini surfactants that form fibrous gels in mixtures of water and ethanol. These gels have been shown to incorporate drug molecules in their fibres. The release of the drugs is function of the structures of gelator and drug. Control over the initial steps of fibre formation should lead to a predictable influence over interactions between gels and their guests as well as their efficacy in drug delivery. Inferences from preliminary data suggest that an initially disordered colloid transforms into ordered fibres with an internal lamellar structure. Time resolved contrast variation SANS on SANS2D, combined by complimentary offline SAXS measurement will allow us to identify the nanostructures that form in real-time.