Polymorphism of crystalline complexes of V-amylose with fatty acids.

The crystallization of amylose from dilute solutions in the presence of a series of linear saturated fatty acids (C3 to C20) was investigated by varying the fatty acid concentration, crystallization temperature and solvent composition (DMSO:water in various ratios). The morphology and structure of the resulting model lamellar crystals were characterized by transmission electron microscopy as well as electron and X-ray diffraction. By adequately controlling the crystallization parameters, all fatty acids could induce the formation of both 6- and 7-fold V-amylose single helices, indicating that the amylose conformation was independent of the chain length of the complexing molecule. Three allomorphs (V6, V6 and V7) were identified individually or in mixtures. Higher concentrations of fatty acid and DMSO and a higher temperature promoted the formation of the more compact V6 structure. V6 and V7 preferentially formed with lower concentrations of fatty acids and DMSO and at lower temperatures. In the case of C5-C20 fatty acids, V7 was only obtained in the presence of DMSO. The polymorphism of V-amylose complexes with linear saturated fatty acids thus appears to be a more general phenomenon than previously reported in the literature.