COACERVATES

摘要

In this article, the dimensional characteristics of amphiphiles are explored: their mode of interaction with oppositely charged surfactant (catanionic) or (bio) polymers in aqueous solution at various environmental conditions. In such an interaction, they form coacervates, which have a wide application.1 It has been found that the solubilization efficiency of micelles remain intact in micelle-polyelectrolyte associative phase (a type of coacervate). Protein structure appears to be unaltered in protein-poly electrolyte coacervates, as evidenced from the retention of the enzymatic activity. Other features include rheological control, and in particular, the gel-like appearance of coacervates is important in many technical applications such as food stuff, pharmaceutical microencapsulation, cosmetic formulation, paint and coatings, protein separation and purification to mention a few.1 Catanionic surfactants have an ability to template nanoparticles of adjustable size (microencapsulation) and find wide applications.2 Vesicle phase that occurs in biocompatible catanionic surfactant mixtures has a latent application in exceptionally selective membranes, drug and gene delivery,3 DNA encapsulation, slow drug release, micro reactors for production of colloidal particles, and cosmetic applications. The interest in this arena stems mainly from their spontaneous formation, ability to stay either as a free flowing liquid or viscous gel like materials or as amorphous solids, and their long term stability, when compared with most lipidic vesicle formulations.