Synthesis and properties of amphiphilic phospholipid analogous polyacrylamidic gels

New phospholipid analogous acrylamide monomers containing alkyl chains as the hydrophobic groups and phosphatidylcholine analogues as the hydrophilic groups were synthesized. The polymerizations of these monomers were carried out in the presence of alpha,alpha'-azobisisobutyronitrile as a radical initiator and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a cross-linking agent. The obtained gels were found to swell in polar solvents, but shrink in nonpolar solvents. The result of X-ray diffraction analysis proposed that these gels are basically constructed from alternately stacked bilayers with hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of the side chain. Furthermore, liquid crystalline behaviors for these gels were observed at room temperature. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.