Dextran-magnetite complex: conformation of dextran chains and stability of solution.

Three kinds of dextran-magnetite (DM) complexes were prepared using alkali-treated dextrans with molecular weights of 1900, 4200 and 9600, respectively. The number of dextrans binding to a magnetite core was determined. The number was proportional to the area of core surface and the area occupied by a dextran was 2.5 nm2 for molecular weight of 1900, 2.8 for 4200 and 3.8 for 9600. The binding of dextrans to core may be conditioned by the conformation of dextran chains in water (possibly by the steric hindrance between dextrans covering core). Stability of the DM solution was examined at 80 degrees C. Aggregation and/or precipitation of DM particles were observed within two weeks. The stability of DM solution was found to increase with increasing molecular weight of dextran. The dissociation of dextran from the core may cause the aggregation and subsequent precipitation of DM particles (the dissociation constant at 20 degrees C, 3.7 x 10(-6) for a molecular weight of 1900 and 5.4 x 10(-7) for 9600).