Amphiphilic properties of a polymerized glycolipid surfactant

Abstract

N-(Undec-10-enyl)lactobionamide was synthesized and polymerized in aqueous solution by γ-irradiation of micellar solutions, leading to the polymer. The critical micellar concentration (cmc) of monomer compound was determined by surface tension measurements (3.2 × 10^–3 mol dm^–3); we could not detect any cmc with the polymer. The structure of the monomer and of the polymer were characterized using quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and freeze–fracture electron microscopy (FFEM). The data obtained for the polymer are in agreement with it consisting of spherical aggregates. We have investigated the micellar properties of the monomer as well as those of its corresponding polymer through the study of the solubilization of highly hydrophobic compounds and of the base-catalysed hydrolysis of hydrophobic esters. Comparative studies showed better efficiency of the polymer compared with the monomer analogue.