How does microscopic organization of an organized assembly alter during macroscopic structural transition? The question may be important to ascertain driving forces responsible for such transitions. Didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB)/water/cydohexane reverse micelle is an attractive assembly that undergoes structural transition from rod to spherical shape when the amount of water loading, w(0) ([water]/[surfactant]), exceeds a particular value (w(0) similar to 8). Here, we intend to investigate the effect of the morphological change upon interfacial hydration using steady-state and time resolved fluorescence measurements. The anionic fluorophore 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (HPTS or pyranine) is expected to be trapped within the positively charged RM interface. The fluorophore can undergo excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) in the presence of water and, thus, is able to provide insight on the level of hydration within the interface. The ESPT process is markedly inhibited within the interface at low w(0) and gradually favored with increase of w(0). The time-resolved fluorescence decays could be best analyzed by assuming distribution of HPTS over two distinct interfacial regions- partly hydrated and mostly dehydrated. The relative population of the two regions varies distinctly at low w(0) (<6) and high w(0) (>6) regimes. Moreover, fluorescence anisotropy (steady-state and time-resolved) varies differently with respect to w(0), before and after the transition point (w(0) similar to 8).
