Fluorescence methods in the study of the interactions of surfactants with polymers

In this review we present the application of fluorescence techniques to study polymer-surfactant systems, discussing the various methods and materials in use. In the first section we consider the use of low molecular weight fluorescence probes to measure the critical aggregation concentration and aggregation number of polymer-surfactant complexes and to characterize the microenvironment within the complexes. The next section deals exclusively with the association of fluorescently-labeled polymers and surfactants. The final part of the review is dedicated to a description of selected recent investigations, with particular emphasis on the study of the complexes formed between surfactants and hydrophobically-modified polymers.