Light scattering investigation of association phenomena in saline carrageenan solutions

Intermolecular association of ι- and κ-carrageenan in aqueous solution has been studied by wide-angle laser light scattering as a function of salt composition and temperature. For ι-carragenan, the effect of three different salts (LiCl, NaCl, NaI) on the associative properties was investigated. As to κ-carrageenan, the association-inducing effect of Cs⁺ ions was studied, with particular interest in the time dependence of the aggregation process.     

Dilute solution behaviour of amylose tributyrate. Light scattering,viscosity and osmotic pressure measurements in non-ideal solvents

Amylose tributyrate has been prepared and fractionated; the dilute solution behaviour of the polymer has been studied in four solvents, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, carbon tetrachloride and tetrahydrofuran. The Mark-Houwink relations have been established for each solvent and the exponent γ varies between 0·72 and 0·86, for different solvents. Perturbed dimensions have been measured for the polymer dissolved in two solvents and an estimate of the unperturbed dimensions has been made; the latter appear to be solvent dependent. Heterogeneity corrections were applied using data established by gel permeation chromatography measurements. Values of the effective bond length b of between 17 and 19·5 × 10^?8 cm and the Kuhn statistical segment A_m of 70 to 180 x 10^?8 cm, indicate that amylose tributyrate behaves like a moderately stiff coil in good solvents, with a chain stiffness intermediate between the vinyl and cellulosic polymers.     

Light scattering investigation of interaction between polymers in dilute solution

Parameters characterizing the interaction of nonidentical polymer molecules in dilute solutions of mixtures of two polymers have been defined on the basis of Stockmayer's theory of light scattering in multicomponent systems. Various procedures for evaluation of the interaction parameters from experimental data have been compared. Specific features of the investigation of such interactions are demonstrated with the scattering behavior of the system polystyrene-poly-(methyl methacrylate)-dioxane.     

Amphiphilic maleic acid-containing alternating copolymers—2. Dilute solution characterization by light scattering,intrinsic viscosity,and PGSE NMR spectroscopy

The dilute solution behavior of several alternating copolymers of maleic acid has been characterized by static and dynamic light scattering, intrinsic viscosity, and pulsed-gradient spin-echo NMR spectroscopy. The copolymer of maleic acid–sodium salt and isobutylene (IBMA-Na, M_w ∼350 kg/mol) dissolves readily in concentrated aqueous salt solutions. Changes in chain dimensions with ionic strength and pH are similar to those of the lesser salt solution-soluble poly(acrylic acid-sodium salt). The hydrophobically modified (with n-butyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, and phenethyl amines) copolymers of maleic acid–sodium salts and isobutylene (IBMA-NHR-Na) show no sign of large intermolecular aggregation in 0.1 N sodium acetate (NaAc). However, the sizes of the copolymers are relatively small compared to that of the ionized parent copolymer (IBMA-Na, M_w ∼350 kg/mol), suggesting intramolecular aggregation of the alkyl side-chain groups along the polymer backbone. The copolymer modified with the longer chain n-decyl, on the other hand, forms stable large intermolecular aggregates containing 33 chains/aggregate. The copolymers of maleic acid–sodium salt and styrene (SMA-Na) appear to have no signs of aggregation, despite being a hydrophobic polyelectrolyte. The copolymer of maleic acid–sodium salt and di-isobutylene (DIBMA-Na) has a similar salting-out concentration as SMA-Na. The radius of gyration measurements by static light scattering suggest that at least some fraction of the DIBMA-Na chains form large intermolecular aggregates. The copolymers of maleic acid–sodium salt with n-alkenes (n-C_mMA-Na) in 0.1 N NaAc form small intermolecular aggregates (three to five chains/aggregate). In contrast to these static light scattering results, PGSE NMR diffusion measurements for the above aggregated systems indicate only one diffusion coefficient consistent with the motion of single isolated chains. A plausible explanation for this discrepancy is that the population of the aggregates is too small to be sufficiently detected in the PGSE NMR experiment. Furthermore, it is likely that the aggregate has a larger relaxation rate than the nonaggregate, and therefore has a comparatively reduced signal in the PGSE NMR experiment. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3584–3597, 2004     

Frequency dependence of intrinsic viscosity of macromolecules with finite internal viscosity

In order to explain the observed nonvanishing limiting value of dynamic intrinsic viscosity of polymer solutions at ω = ∞ one has considered the necklace model with finite resistance to the rate of coil deformation introduced long ago by Cerf for the study of gradient dependence of intrinsic viscosity and streaming birefringence. The calculation need not take into account change of hydrodynamic interaction as a consequence of coil deformation because the experimental data are always either obtained at very low gradient or extrapolated to zero gradient so that in the experiment the macromolecule has the same conformation as in the solution at rest. The model indeed yields a finite [η]′_{ω = ∞} in good agreement with experiments on polystyrene in Aroclor. According to the theory [η]′_{ω = ∞}/[η]₀ decreases with increasing molecular weight as M^?1 and M^?1/2 for the free-draining and impermeable coil, respectively. The absolute limiting value [η]_∞′, therefore turns out to be nearly independent of M, at least for small values of internal viscosity. From the observed value [η]_∞′/[η₀] one can obtain the coefficient of internal viscosity of the macromolecule. The value for polystyrene in Aroclor calculated from dynamic experiments on rather concentrated solutions is close to that derived by Cerf from streaming birefringence observations of polystyrene in a series of solvents of widely differing viscosity.     

Investigations into the formation and characterization of microemulsions. II. Light scattering conductivity and viscosity studies of microemulsions

Microemulsions formed with water—xylene—sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate (NaDBS)-hexanol have been investigated using time-average light scattering conductivity and viscosity measurements at 25°C. Four different concentrations of NaDBS were used, namely, 5, 10.9, 15, and 20 wt% and the molar ratio of n-hexanol:NaDBS was kept constant at 3.4, 3.24, 3.4, and 3.4, respectively. The light scattering results showed that at low volume fractions of water, φ_H2O, the Rayleigh ratio, R₉₀ increased slowly with an increase in φ_H2O but above a critical volume fraction of water, φ_H2O^S, R₉₀ increased almost linearly with increase of φ_H2O, reached a maximum at another critical water volume fraction, φ_H2O^C, above which R₉₀ decreased with further increase in φ_H2O. The results were interpreted qualitatively in terms of the possible aggregate units formed. A quantitative analysis of the light scattering data was carried out using a procedure based on the use of a hard sphere model for particle interactions. Using this approach, the water droplet radius R was calculated as a function of φ_H2O for the four systems investigated. The results showed a linear increase of R with increase in φ_H2O. Approximate values of the water radii were also calculated from the interfacial area and these were found to be in full agreement with the radii obtained from light scattering measurements. The conductance κ showed a non-monotonic variation as the water concentration was increased. A maximum in the κ-φ_H2O was observed at a critical volume fraction of water φ_H2O^S above which κ decreased and then remained almost constant over a range of φ_H2O values. The conductance then sharply increased at another φ_H2O value, namely φ_H2O^C. This φ_H2O^C value was reduced with increase in NaDBS concentration. The conductance results indicate structural changes in the system as the water concentration increases and the transition observed correlate with those obtained from light scattering. Moreover, the low κ values found and the non-monotonic variation of κ with φ_H2O are indicative of the presence of definitive water cores with an external surfactant film which acts as a barrier for ion transport. Viscosity results showed the behavior normally encountered with concentrated dispersions, the relative viscosity η_r increasing exponentially with φ_H2O. The viscosity data were fitted to the Mooney equation. The results showed an increase in the Einstein coefficient with increase in NaDBS concentration indicating an increase in the hydrodynamic volume of droplets. This was attributed to the increase of the ratio of the surfactant layer thickness to the droplet core radius as the NaDBS concentration is increased.     

A new method for determination of intrinsic viscosity

The Huggins and Kraemer equations generally used to determine intrinsic viscosity frequently do not yield identical results, and their constants often do not add up to 1/2 as is mathematically required. To overcome these difficulties an equation has been deduced which through linear plots gives unambiguous intrinsic viscosities, constants which meet the 1/2 condition, as well as two other flow constants. Extensive tests of the equation with precise data on solutions of poly(methyl methacrylates) and polystyrenes in benzene and toluene confirm the validity of the new equation in every respect. It is further shown that the four constants involved are interrelated, and that it is possible to express the values of three of these in terms of the fourth.     

Interplay between electrophoretic mobility and intrinsic viscosity of polypeptide chains

The present work is motivated specifically by the need to find a simple interplay between experimental values of electrophoretic mobility and intrinsic viscosity (IV) of polypeptides. The connection between these two properties, as they are evaluated experimentally in a formulated dilute solution, may provide relevant information concerning the physicochemical characterization and separation of electrically charged chains such as polypeptides. Based on this aspect, a study on the relation between the effective electrophoretic mobility and the IV of the following globular proteins is carried out: bovine carbonic anhydrase, staphylococcal nuclease, human carbonic anhydrase, lysozyme, human serum albumin. The basic interpretation of the IV through polypeptide chain conformations involves two unknowns: one is the Flory characteristic ratio involving short-range intramolecular interactions and the other is the Mark-Houwink exponent associated with large-range intramolecular interactions. Here, it will be shown via basic and well-established electrokinetic theories and scaling concepts that the IV and global chain flexibility of polypeptides in dilute solutions may be estimated from capillary zone electrophoresis, in addition to classical transport properties. The polypeptide local chain flexibility may change due to electrostatic interactions among closer chain ionizing groups and the hindrance effect of their associated structural water.     

Determination of intrinsic viscosity of polyelectrolytes in salt-free solutions

Comparative analysis of the methods for determination of the intrinsic viscosity of both neutral and polyelectrolyte molecules is made.     

Scaling analysis of the temperature dependence of intrinsic viscosity

The scaling predictions for the temperature dependence of the intrinsic viscosity of flexible polymers are briefly reviewed. When the predictions are fit to a power law over a fixed range of chain length, a relation between the exponent and prefactor of the Mark–Houwink–Sakurada equation emerges. In comparing with the experimental data compilation of Rai and Rosen, we conclude that real polymer systems are nowhere near the true good solvent limit, even when the exponent matches the good solvent prediction. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 1989–1991, 1997     

Light scattering from albumins

In light scattering data of albumins, one distinguishes a large broad band from the normal Raman lines. That broad band in ovuline albumin is shown to have a pseudo-Raman behavior.     

Light scattering from a nematic monodomain in an electric field Twist elastic constant and viscosity coefficient of nematic polymer-solvent mixtures

The light scattering technique was used to investigate the viscoelastic parameters characterizing director twist distortions in miscible nematic mixtures of 5CB (pentacyanobiphenyl) with two side chain liquid crystal polymers and a main chain liquid crystal polymer. By applying an AC electric field to homeotropically-aligned nematic monodomains of the mixtures, the field-dependent scattering intensities and director orientation fluctuation relaxation rates yield, respectively, the twist elastic constant K₂₂ and viscosity coefficient γ₁. The results directly demonstrate that the addition of liquid crystal polymers causes substantial decreases of the relaxation rates for dynamic light scattering from the twist mode and these changes are due to small decreases in K₂₂ coupled with large increases in γ₁. The decrements in K₂₂ are comparable for both side chain and main chain liquid crystal polymers. The relative increase in the twist viscosity for the side chain liquid crystal polymers is much smaller than those of main chain polymers. A theoretical model is used to qualitatively interpret the difference between the viscous behaviour of the twist mode for both side chain and main chain liquid crystal polymers in a nematic solvent.     

Light scattering and cryo-transmission electron microscopy investigation of the self-assembling behavior of Di-C12P-nucleosides in solution

Aggregates formed from freshly prepared and annealed samples of dilauroyl-phosphatidyl-adenosine, dilauroyl-phosphatidyl-uridine, and their 1:1 mixture have been investigated by dynamic light scattering, cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) observations, and circular dichroism. The two surfactants differ only for the nucleoside at the phospholipid polar headgroup and self-assemble in solution to form supramolecular structures that behave dissimilarly. The uridine derivative forms long wormlike aggregates that are invariant with the aging of the solution, while the wormlike aggregate of the adenosine derivative undergoes, as the sample ages, a subsequent self-assembling process forming giant helicoidal aggregates that coexist with the smaller wormlike aggregates. Dynamic light scattering and cryo-TEM show that the large helicoidal structures are formed at the expense of the small wormlike micelles. The 1:1 mixture behaves as the adenosine derivative and evolves to form giant superstructures for all the lipid concentrations investigated. Circular dichroism measurements suggest that the formation of the supramolecular helicoidal structure might not be driven by a purely chiral effect, but rather stacking and hydrogen bonding, present at the phospholipid headgroups of the self-assembled nucleosides, contribute to the final supramolecular structure.