Structural Organization of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels Obtained by Freezing and Thawing Techniques: A SANS Study
The structural organization of matter in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels obtained by repeatedly freezing and thawing dilute solutions of PVA in D2O is investigated by use of small-angle neutron scattering measurements (SANS). This study is the first systematic and quantitative investigation in the medium range of length scales on PVA hydrogels obtained by freezing and thawing techniques. The studied gels have a complex hierarchical structure, extending over a wide range of length scales. The structural organization on the micron length scale originates from the presence of two separated phases constituted by polymer-rich and polymer-poor regions. The network structure may be interpreted…
Temperature and concentration effects on supramolecular aggregation and phase behavior for poly(propylene oxide)–b-poly(ethylene oxide) –b-poly(propylene oxide) copolymers of different concentration in aqueous mixtures, 2
The micro- and mesoscopic structure of reverse Pluronic 25R4 in aqueous mixtures has been studied by SANS, SAXS and shear rheology. These techniques have been able to give a deep insight into the complex structure of the system phase diagram, that includes an isotropic water-rich liquid phase L(1), and liquid crystalline phases with hexagonal, E, or lamellar order, D. Particular attention has been paid to the isotropic water-rich phase L(1), which has a large stability region in the temperature-composition phase diagram. This region is crossed by a large "cloudy zone". Below it, namely at low temperature and composition, SANS data show the presence of polymer unimers in a gaussian coil conf…
Mesoscopic and Microscopic Investigation on Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels in the Presence of Sodium Decylsulfate
The structure of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels formed as a result of freeze/thaw treatments of aqueous solutions of the polymer (11 wt % PVA) in the freshly prepared state is analyzed through the combined use of small (SANS) and ultrasmall (USANS) angle neutron scattering techniques. The structure of these hydrogels may be described in terms of polymer rich regions, with dimensions of the order of 1-2 microm, dispersed in a water rich phase, forming two bicontinuous phases. The PVA chains in the polymer rich phase form a network where the cross-linking points are mainly crystalline aggregates of PVA having average dimensions of approximately 45 A. The structural organization of freeze…
Mixed micelles composed of Peptides and Gadolinium complexes as tumor-specific contrast agents in MRI: a SANS study
A detailed structural investigation on mixed micelle aggregates as target-specific contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging technique has been carried out by way of small angle neutron scattering measurements. These mixed micelles are formed by two new amphiphilic molecules formed by a bioactive peptide and a claw moiety. The first molecule, C18H37CONH(AdOO)(x)-G-CCK8 (C18LxCCK8, x = 2, 5), contains an 18-carbon-atom alkylic chain bound to the C-terminal of the cholecystokinin octapeptide amide (CCK 26-33 or CCK8) and is able to bind to the overexpressed CCK receptor of some tumor cells. The second molecule, C(18)H(37)CONHLys(DTPAGlu)CONH25- (C18DTPAGlu) or its gadolinium complex [C(1…