Temperature and polymer induced structural changes in SDS/decanol based multilamellar vesicles

Abstract

SANS measurements show a temperature induced transition from a compact to a more swollen liquid crystalline SDS/decanol/water phase in the presence of a certain amount (3% by weight) of the oppositely charged polyelectrolyte poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC). DSC measurements indicate a phase transition in a specific temperature region. Additional measurements show that the phase transition temperature is shifted to higher values by increasing the PDADMAC concentration. This implies that the transition from a “normal” swollen LC-phase to a more compact non-swollen LC-phase can be induced at room temperature by adding a critical amount (5% by weight) of PDADMAC.