New associating polymer systems involving water soluble beta-cyclodextrin polymers.

Original associating systems have been obtained by mixing hydrophobically end-capped polyethylene oxide and water soluble beta-cyclodextrin polymers in aqueous solutions. The hydrophobic ends of the PEO polymers, naphtyl and adamantyl groups, have been chosen in order to match the beta-cyclodextrin cavities. Inclusion complex formation between the PEO terminal groups and beta-cyclodextrin are at the origin of polymolecular associations. Complexation constants have been determined by fluorescence methods, using a fluorescent probe 1-8 ANS as a competitor for complexation against the adamantyl groups or directly checking the fluorescence of the naphtytl groups by fluorescence anisotropy measurements. The onsets of the polymolecular associations have been monitored by viscosimetry.