Lecithin organogels containing poly(ethylene glycol) monolaurate

The effect of added poly(ethylene glycol) monolaurate (PEGML) on the format ion and properties of lecithin organogels composed of polymer-like micelles was studied by the methods of dynamic theology and the Fourier transform I R spectroscopy. It was established that the addition of even small amounts of PEGML causes a significant decrease in viscosity, whereas the elastic pr operties of organogels remained almost unchanged. The analysis of the scali ng dependences indicated that the formation mechanism of polymer-like lecit hin micelles remained also unchanged. Spectral studies revealed that the PE GML molecules affect intermolecular hydrogen bonding during their incorpora tion into micelles, thus stabilizing micellar structure. This effect is cau sed by the partial dehydration of the lecithin polar region. This leads to a decrease in the number of hydrogen bonds or their weakening and, as a res ult, to the disintegration of polymer-like lecithin micelles into shorter m icellar aggregates.