INVESTIGATING THE INTERACTIONS OF PHOSPHOROSELENOATE COMPOUNDS WITH SURFACTANTS

Organoselenium compounds have been extensively studied due to their potential anticancer, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties1–3. Investigating surfactant interactions with organoselenium molecules offers opportunities to enhance formulation effectiveness. In this study, phosphoroselenoate compounds were encapsulated in three commonly used surfactants: cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and Tween 20® (polysorbate 20). Improved solubility was observed across all compounds, with the aliphatic phosphoroselenoate displaying higher compatibility with the surfactants compared to the aromatic variants. The micelles formed were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. Stability was evaluated using zeta potential measurements, revealing that formulations with SDS and CTAB were more stable than those with Tween 20. Furthermore, Gibbs free energy calculations indicated a favorable, spontaneous system for both SDS and CTAB.