Catanionic gels based on cholic acid derivatives.
In this paper, the preparation and characterization of an anionic and a cationic surfactant obtained by chemical modifications of a natural bile acid (cholic acid) are reported. The bile acid was modified by introducing a diamine or a dicarboxylic aromatic residue on the lateral chain. The pure cationic surfactant self-assembles in a network of fibers with a cross-section gyration radius of about 15.1 Å, providing hydrogels with a pH-dependent compactness. On the other hand, the anionic molecule gives rise to prolate ellipsoid micelles. Homogeneous catanionic mixtures have also been obtained, with molar fraction of each surfactant ranging from 0.125 to 0.875. At total surfactant concentration of 0.05% (w/v), the mixtures form gels of fibrils partially arranged in secondary twisted superstructures. Comparison of this concentration with the minimum gelation concentration of the pure cationic derivative (0.16% w/v) suggests that, in the mixtures, the presence of the electrostatic component in self-assembly of the molecules allows the formation of gels starting from more dilute samples. In view of these achievements, this work suggests that catanionic mixtures can be exploited to enhance the efficiency of gelators.
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza" , P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
M Chiara
MC
di Gregorio
N Viorel
NV
Pavel
Javier
J
Miragaya
Aida
A
Jover
Francisco
F
Meijide
José
J
Vázquez Tato
Victor H Soto
VH
Tellini
Luciano
L
Galantini
D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D019826:Cholic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
D002412:Cations; D005782:Gels; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D019826:Cholic Acid