Interfacial properties of amphiphilic natural polymer systems based on derivatives of chitin
Résumé
This short review highlights characterizations of amphiphilic polysaccharide systems based on chitin derivatives. Two routes are detailed: grafting hydrophobic moieties onto the macromolecular backbone and the addition of an oppositely charged surfactant to form an electrostatic complex. Attention to the surface tension, kinetics of adsorption, and formation of a structural adsorption layer is used to inform a comparison of the various interfacial properties of these systems. © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry.