Water A Comprehensive Treatise : Volume 4: Aqueous Solutions of Amphiphiles and Macromolecules

This volume of "Water-A Comprehensive Treatise" is devoted to aqueous solutions of macromolecules and aqueous systems of small molecules which exhibit reversible aggregation in solution. This latter type of behavior is closely linked with the hydrophobic interaction and a chapter devoted to this subject is therefore included in the volume. As the volumes constituting this treatise progress from pure water through solutions of simple molecules to the present volume, the level of our understanding of observed phenomena decreases and the experimental and theoretical techniques available become less adequate to provide the detailed information required. Thus, for example, we have so far been unable to include the generally acknowledged solvent effects in conformational calculations on biopolymers. On the credit side, however, some of the information gained from the study of simple aqueous solutions and water by itself is now beginning to find application in the elucidation of the properties of the systems discussed in this volume. Perhaps an editorial explanation is required for lack of uniformity of approach by the various contributing authors, but this is primarily due to the historical development of the subjects covered. Thus the study of lipids, nucleotides, proteins, and polysaccharides originated in the biological disciplines where water has always been accepted as the natural substrate, even though its role in promoting the various in vivo processes has only recently been recognized. On the other hand the subject of aqueous solutions of synthetic macromolecules has grown out of classical polymer physics and chemistry where water as a solvent is generally avoided, and for good reasons. It is nevertheless my view that water-soluble and water-sensitive polymers have considerable technological potential and it is my hope that the material collected in this volume may help in the exploitation of these interesting substances. All the subjects covered by this book are still in a state of rapid development so that much of what is written here may look out of date two years v vi Preface from now. It is nevertheless my hope that the approaches taken by the authors will provide new slants on well established phenomena. Once again my thanks are due first and foremost to Mrs. Joyce Johnson for her invaluable and cheerful help with preparation of manuscripts, mdexing, checking references Front Matter....Pages i-xxi The Hydrophobic Interaction....Pages 1-94 Surfactants....Pages 95-167 Dyestuffs....Pages 169-207 Lipids....Pages 209-303 Nucleic Acids, Peptides, and Proteins....Pages 305-518 Polysaccharides....Pages 519-567 Synthetic Polymers....Pages 569-757 Back Matter....Pages 759-839