Organized assembly from biosurfactants

Abstract

The formation of higher order aggregates in aqueous media from naturally occurring surfactants (biosurfactants) and its mechanism have been studied. A liposome (vesicle), as a kind of artificial cell, is prepared according to a newly developed microencapsulation technique from phospholipids by mimicking the molecular structure of biomembranes. Secondly, the surface active properties of alkaline salts of spiculisporic acid depend on the kinds of alkali as its gegen ions; these have been studied for the purpose of a detailed understanding of vesicle formation of the alkylamine salts of spiculisporic acid in the binary system consisting of spiculisporates and water. Thirdly, the solution behavior of the ternary system of spiculisporates-oil-water is examined. Divalent cationic salts of spiculisporic acid formed oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion gels due to ionic-bonding network formation of spiculisporates around emulsified oil droplets and these are important for their gelling properties. These gelling systems may have potential to be O/W emulsion-type paints and safe fuels.