DISINTEGRATION OF POLY(N-ALPHA,N-EPSILON-TEREPHTHALOYL-L-LYSINE) MICROCAPSULES BY ALKYLPYRIDINIUM CHLORIDES

Poly(Nα, Nε{lunate}-terephthaloyl-l-lysine) (PPL) microcapsules were found to undergo disintegration in aqueous medium by the action of alkylpyridinium chlorides when the surfactant cations existed in such amounts that they could solubilize PPL molecules constituting the microcapsules, which were dependent on the pH of the medium and alkyl chain length of the surfactant cation. The solubilized PPL molecule behaved as a polyelectrolyte. Low concentrations of the surfactant cations caused aggregation of the microcapsules. Crosslinking with glutaraldehyde of the terminal amino groups prevented the capsules from disintegrating. © 1979.