When Light Tastes Sweet: Exclusive Sway of Glucose-Mediated Modulation of Excited-State Proton Transfer in Reverse Micelles

We report the notable demonstration that glucose modulates excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) within reverse micelles formed by bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT) and Igepal CO 520 (IGE). This study is significant because it uncovers how a simple, biologically relevant sweetener molecule, such as glucose, can influence proton transfer dynamics in confined water, offering insights into proton-coupled processes in biological and biomimetic systems. These findings offer broad chemical relevance for soft-matter chemistry and nanoscience.