Self assembly of anastomosis-like superstructures in fatty acid/guanidine hydrochloride aqueous dispersions

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2010 Jan 15;341(2):386-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2009.09.061. Epub 2009 Oct 2.

Abstract

A mixture between 1% sodium myristate and guanidine hydrochloride at a molar ratio of 1 in water forms a gel of membranes below a phase transition of ca. 21 degrees C and a viscous limpid and isotropic solution above. As observed by both TEM and AFM, we report the formation of interconnected superstructures in that latter phase. Those assemblies exhibit a size of ca. 4-40 nm width and several tens of mum length with unexpected disconnections and re-connections between them having the appearance of an anastomosis-like superstructure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
  • Fatty Acids / chemistry*
  • Guanidine / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Models, Molecular
  • Myristic Acid / chemistry
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Phase Transition
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Water
  • Myristic Acid
  • Guanidine