A novel fluorescence probe for micellization of amphiphilic molecules in water based on intramolecular exciplex formation

A novel friction-sensitive fluoresence probe based on intramolecular excipl ex formation, (9-anthrylmethyloxymethyl)pyrene (AMOP), was used to study th e micellization of amphiphilic molecules such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SD S) and hydrocarbon-modified polyethylene glycol (HM-PEG) in water. Results demonstrate that AMOP can serve as a sensitive probe for micellization of b oth SDS and HM-PEG. In addition, AMOP reveals information about the microvi scosity of SDS and HM-PEG micelles, which is in good agreement with the res ults obtained from other fluorescence probes based on intramolecular excime r such as dipyrenylpropane (Py(CH2)(3)Py) and bis(1-pyrenylmethyl) ether (d ipyme, PyCH2OCH2Py).