Assembly and disassembly of tubular spherulites

    Authors

    K. Tamhane; X. J. Zhang; J. H. Zou;J. Y. Fang

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Soft Matter

    Keywords

    BILE-ACIDS; AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS; HELICAL RIBBONS; CHOLIC-ACID; GROWTH; DERIVATIVES; COMPLEXES; MOLECULES; CHIRALITY; CRYSTALS; Chemistry, Physical; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary; Physics, ; Multidisciplinary; Polymer Science

    Abstract

    We report a higher-order assembly of lithocholic acid (LCA) into spherulites composed of a large number of well-defined tubules in aqueous solution at physiological pH of 7.5. Under a polarizing optical microscope, the tubular spherulites show a Maltese-cross extinction pattern. The disassembly of tubular spherulites by brief sonication leads to the formation of a large quantity of well-dispersed straight tubules with a crystalline wall and a narrow diameter distribution. We find that the tubules, which are organized in spherulites and dispersed in solution, show a pH-switchable shape transition.

    Journal Title

    Soft Matter

    Volume

    6

    Issue/Number

    6

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1224

    Last Page

    1228

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000277833400018

    ISSN

    1744-683X

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