Published papers

Various amphiphiles including surfactants and lipids have been designed and synthesized to improve and create new functionalities. In particular, the emergence of cell-like behaviors of giant vesicles (GVs) composed of synthetic lipids has drawn much attention in the development of chemical models for cells. The aim of this study was to measure temperature-dependent morphological changes of GVs induced by fragmentation and subsequent growth using hydrolysable cationic lipids having an amide linkage. Results from differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy using an environment-responsive probe, and confocal Raman microscopy showed that the dynamics observed were due to changes in the vesicle membrane, including variation in the lipid composition, induced by thermal stimulation.

Novel biodegradable and chemically recyclable carbonate-type cationic surfactants consisting of a long chain alkyl group and a quaternary ammonium propyl group were designed and synthesized as a green surfactant. These carbonate-type cationics showed better surface activities in an aqueous solution when compared to the conventional cationics. Novel cationics containing both the carbonate linkage and n-dodecyl group showed strong antimicrobial properties, enzymatic degradabilities for chemical recycling and rapid biodegradabilities by activated sludge.

Gemini-type cationic surfactants containing carbonate linkages as biodegradable and chemically recyclable segments, consisting of two long-chain alkyl groups, two quaternary ammonium groups and a linker moiety, were designed and synthesized as novel green and sustainable cationics with improved physicochemical and biological activities. The gemini-type cationics containing a carbonate linkage showed lower critical micelle concentration values compared to the corresponding single-type cationics. Also, the gemini-type cationics containing a carbonate linkage in the linker moiety showed strong antimicrobial activities. The biodegradability of the gemini-type cationics was significantly improved when a carbonate linkage was introduced into the linker moiety. The maximum biochemical oxygen demand-biodegradability of the gemini-type cationics containing a carbonate linkage in the linker moiety exceeded 70% after a 28-day incubation. Furthermore, the gemini-type cationics containing both a carbonate linkage and an n-dodecyl group showed a chemical recyclability using a lipase (E.C. 3.1.1.3).

A series of polyoxyethylene surfactants containing carbonate linkages as biodegradable and chemically recyclable segments was designed and synthesized by a green process. A two-step carbonate exchange reaction was used: dimethyl or diphenyl carbonate was reacted with 1-alkanol, and the product was reacted with poly (ethylene) glycol in the presence of a lipase or chemical catalyst. The obtained carbonate-type nonionics exhibited good surface-active properties such as a low critical micelle concentration value and a surface tension lowering action. They were readily biodegraded by activated sludge, furthermore, could be chemical recycled using a lipase.

Polycarboxylate-type green surfactants with either sulfide- (S-) or imino- (N-) linkages were prepared in high yields by a single addition reaction of fatty mercaptan or fatty amine with unsaturated polycarboxylic acids such as fumaric, maleic, itaconic and aconitic acids. They exhibited surfactant properties and excellent biodegradabilities. Also, green surfactants with S-linkages showed better calcium ion sequestration abilities compared to the corresponding surfactant having an N-linkage. Among these surfactants, aconitic acid-derived polycarboxylate with an S-linkage exhibited calcium ion sequestration capacities similar to that of disodium 3-oxapentanedioate (ODA), a conventional calcium ion sequestrant on a molar basis of the surfactant.

Synthesis of three types of purpose-designed mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL)-D analogues with decanoyl groups (C10), β-GlcEL-D, α-GlcEL-D, and α-MEL-D, was accomplished utilizing our boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) methods. Their self-assembling properties, recovery effects on damaged skin cells, and antibacterial activity were evaluated. It was revealed, for the first time, that α-GlcEL-D and α-MEL-D only generated giant vesicles, indicating that slight differences in the steric configuration of an erythritol moiety and fatty acyl chains affect the ability to form vesicles. Analogue α-MEL-D exhibited significant recovery effects on damaged skin cells. Furthermore, α-MEL-D exhibited antibacterial activity as high as that for MEL-D, indicating that α-MEL-D is a promising artificial sugar-based material candidate for enhancing the barrier function of the stratum corneum, superior to a known cosmetic ingredient, and possesses antibacterial activity.