PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATION OF LINEAR DEXTRINS .1. PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AMYLODEXTRIN, METASTABLE AMYLODEXTRINS, AND METASTABLE AMYLOSE

The linear dextrin amylodextrin was prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis f rom waxy maize. Four metastable amylodextrins were prepared by complex ation with different volatile organic compounds. All products showed p artial dissolution into water at room temperature, because of dissolut ion of molecules with a lower DP. X-ray diffractometry revealed a heli cal conformation with six glucose units per turn for amylodextrin and metastable amylodextrins prepared with small molecules, and a helical conformation with seven glucose units per turn for metastable amylodex trins prepared with larger molecules. All metastable amylodextrins sho wed a helix with reduced distance between two turns as compared to amy lodextrin. Metastable amylose, prepared from Amylose V, showed a helic al conformation again with a reduced distance between two turns compar ed to Amylose V. FTIR analysis indicated a more flexible conformation for Amylose V and metastable amylose than for the amylodextrins.