Oppositely charged polysaccharide - surfactant complexes

This work investigates structureproperty relationships of polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes (PESCs) formed by biopolysaccharides and oppositely charged surfactants. The study focuses on mixtures of hyaluronan (HA) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) in aqueous solutions of physiological ionic strength. Rheology of the solutions was examined via oscillating and shear flow experiments. The structure of the formed complexes was determined by small angle static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS) as well as by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). In addition, complementary methods as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), optical microscopy or neutron spin echo (NSE) were applied.