Neutral amphiphilic polysaccharides: chemical structure and emulsifying properties

Dextran, a neutral bacterial polysaccharide, is chemically modified by reaction with an aromatic epoxide (phenylglycidylether). The reaction conditions are either homogeneous, using dimethylsulfoxide as a common solvent, or heterogeneous, dispersing the epoxide into an aqueous solution of dextran. The grafting yield is much higher in homogeneous conditions. The viscometric characteristics of the amphiphilic polysaccharides are examined in water and in dimethylsulfoxide. These properties clearly depend on both the degree of substitution and the reaction conditions at a given degree of substitution. Highly modified dextrans (with more than 30% hydroxyl substituted) exhibit characteristic solubility in organic liquids that are non-solvents for the unmodified dextran. Changing the degree of hydrophobic substitution of the amphiphilic polysaccharide, direct and inverse submicronic emulsions are prepared. The stability of direct and inverse emulsions is analysed by following the evolution of the droplet size. Ostwald ripening is the major ageing process for both emulsions.