Liquid-crystalline behaviours of novel chitosan derivates containing singular and cholesteryl groups

Abstract

A series of esters of chitosan with cholesteryl hexanoate and cholesteryl decanoate side chains were synthesised. These compounds had higher solubilities than chitosan itself and all formed cholesteric lyotropic liquid crystalline phases. They had enhanced mesogenic properties as compared with the parent polymer. We consider that these compounds may prove to be of value as vehicles for drug delivery.

Keywords:

• chitosan
• lyotropic liquid crystal
• cholesteric
• solubility

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the National Natural Science Fundamental Committee of China and the HI-Tech Research and development program (863) of China, the commission for science, technology and industry for national defence (DBDX2008038) of China, the Science and Technology programme (Education Science and Technology special programme) of Liaoning Province and the Science and Technology Department of Liaoning Province for financial support of this work.