The optical activity of the system cellulose acetate - Mesophasogenic solvent in the formation of a lyotropic liquid-crystalline phase

Vapors of a mesophasogenic solvent (which can form an liquid-crystalline phase with the polymer) have been found to actively affect the spatial structure and optical activity of natural polysaccharides (cellulose acetates). This process is accompanied by variations of the specific optical rotation value [alpha] within wide limits, including the inversion of the sign of [alpha]. The action of vapors obeys the dosage-effect rule, with lower doses producing a stronger effect. It was supposed that this approach can be applied to study the structural peculiarities of biopolymers such as DNA.