SMALL-ANGLE SCATTERING STUDY OF AQUEOUS GELS OF SODIUM LITHOCHOLATE

Gel-like aqueous solutions of sodium lithocholate (NaLC) have been stu died by neutron and X-ray small-angle scattering techniques. Evidence for the existence of fibrillar aggregates is presented. In a 0.48% NaL C sample, the diameter of the rod-like structures is ca. 650 Angstrom. The scattering patterns, which can be anisotropic, are unusual when c ompared with those of other low-molecular-weight gelators and exhibit several strikingly well defined intensity oscillations. The scattering features are interpreted tentatively in terms of helical configuratio ns and/or lyotropic organisations in the heterogeneous network of the gel-like materials.