NEW ASSOCIATING POLYMER SYSTEMS INVOLVING WATER-SOLUBLE BETA-CYCLODEXTRIN POLYMERS

Original associating systems have been obtained by mixing hydrophobica lly end-capped polyethylene oxide and water soluble beta-cyclodextrin polymers in aqueous solutions. The hydrophobic ends of the PEO polymer s, naphtyl and adamantyl groups, have been chosen in order to match th e beta-cyclodextrin cavities. Inclusion complex formation between the PEO terminal groups and beta-cyclodextrin are at the origin of polymol ecular associations. Complexation constants have been determined by fl uorescence methods, using a fluorescent probe 1-8 ANS as a competitor for complexation against the adamantyl groups or directly checking the fluorescence of the naphtytl groups by fluorescence anisotropy measur ements. The onsets of the polymolecular associations have been monitor ed by viscosimetry.