title: Molecular Modeling of Triton X Micelles: Force Field Parameters, Self-Assembly, and Partition Equilibria.
abstract: Nonionic surfactants of the Triton X-series find various applications in extraction processes and as solubilizing agents for the purification of membrane proteins. However, so far no optimized parameters are available to perform molecular simulations with a biomolecular force field. Therefore, we have determined the first optimized set of CHARMM parameters for the Triton X-series, enabling all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In order to validate the new parameters, micellar sizes (aggregation numbers) of Triton X-114 and Triton X-100 have been investigated as a function of temperature and surfactant concentration. These results are comparable with experimental results. Furthermore, we have introduced a new algorithm to obtain micelle structures from self-assembly MD simulations for the COSMOmic method. This model allows efficient partition behavior predictions once a representative micelle structure is available. The predicted partition coefficients for the systems Triton X-114/water and Triton X-100/water are in excellent agreement with experimental results. Therefore, this method can be applied as a screening tool to find optimal solute-surfactant combinations or suitable surfactant systems for a specific application.
authors.affiliation: Hamburg University of Technology , Institute of Thermal Separation Processes, Eissendorfer Strasse 38, 21073 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yordanova
authors.affiliation: Hamburg University of Technology , Institute of Thermal Separation Processes, Eissendorfer Strasse 38, 21073 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Smirnova
authors.affiliation: Hamburg University of Technology , Institute of Thermal Separation Processes, Eissendorfer Strasse 38, 21073 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jakobtorweihen