(725h) Characterization of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Micelles Used As a Template in Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

This research focuses on the characterization of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles used to template polyacrylamide hydrogels. These hydrogels have long been used in protein separations by electrophoresis. Creating more efficient separations is a major topic in the field. One way to enable better separations is through the modification of the gel’s internal pore structure using a nanoscaletemplating  agents (nanovoids). Three main properties of the SDS micelles have been studied: size, stability, and aggregation number (SDS molecules per micelle). These properties have been shown to vary depending on the solvent and weight/volume percent SDS dissolved. Size was studied via dynamic light scattering, stability via zeta potential, and aggregation number via fluorescence spectroscopy. The nanostructured hydrogel itself was also characterized by thermoporometry via differential scanning calorimetry in order  to study the micelles’ effect on the average pore diameter and pore size distribution. Because the SDS micelles are removed prior to the protein separation, Raman spectroscopy was used on hydrogel samples to verify removal. Finally, protein separations were tested  to study the effect of the templating agent on the separation itself. Details and illustrations related to these efforts will be discussed at the presentation and future direction, outlined.