Coloides y tensoactivos!

Un coloide o una fase dispersa es una dispersin de pequeas

partculas (menos de 500 nm de dimetro) de un material en otro.

INCLUYEN
Emulsiones y Suspensiones
Agregados moleculares (micelas)
Soluciones de macromolculas
Sistemas biolgicos

Fase dispersante
Fase dispersa

Caractersticas
*No se ven fases diferentes al microscopio ptico comn.
*Poseen carga elctrica.
*Pasan a travs de papel de filtro
*Se pueden detectar por dispersin de la luz (Presentan efecto
Tyndall), sedimentacin u smosis.

Micelas!

19.14 MICELLES AND BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES

685

when they are heated. The protective role of the double layer is the reason why it is
important not to remove all the ions when a colloid is being purified by dialysis, and
why proteins coagulate most readily at their isoelectric point.
19.14 Micelles and biological membranes
Surfactant molecules or ions can cluster together as micelles, which are colloid-sized
clusters of molecules, for their hydrophobic tails tend to congregate, and their hydrophilic heads provide protection (Fig. 19.39).
(a) Micelle formation

Una micela es un agregado de molculas surfactantes

dispersas en un lquido coloidal.

Different shapes of micelles

Las micelas pueden adoptar diversas formas;

Fig. 19.39 A schematic version of a spherical

micelle. The hydrophilic groups are
represented by spheres and the
hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains are
represented by the stalks; these stalks are
mobile.

Molar
conductivity

Physical property

Micelles form only above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and above the
Krafft temperature. The CMC is detected by noting a pronounced change in physical
properties of the solution, particularly the molar conductivity (Fig. 19.40). There is
no abrupt change in properties at the CMC; rather, there is a transition region corresponding to a range of concentrations around the CMC where physical properties
vary smoothly but nonlinearly with the concentration. The hydrocarbon interior of
a micelle is like a droplet of oil. Nuclear magnetic resonance shows that the hydrocarbon tails are mobile, but slightly more restricted than in the bulk. Micelles are
important in industry and biology on account of their solubilizing function: matter
can be transported by water after it has been dissolved in their hydrocarbon interiors.
For this reason, micellar systems are used as detergents, for organic synthesis, froth
flotation, and petroleum recovery.
Non-ionic surfactant molecules may cluster together in clumps of 1000 or more,
but ionic species tend to be disrupted by the electrostatic repulsions between head
groups and are normally limited to groups of less than about 100. The micelle population is often polydisperse, and the shapes of the individual micelles vary with concentration. Spherical micelles do occur, but micelles are more commonly flattened
spheres close to the CMC.
Under certain experimental conditions, a liposome may form, with an inward
pointing inner surface of molecules surrounded by an outward pointing outer layer
(Fig. 19.41). Liposomes may be used to carry nonpolar drug molecules in blood. In
concentrated solutions micelles formed from surfactant molecules may take the form
of long cylinders and stack together in reasonably close-packed (hexagonal) arrays.
These orderly arrangements of micelles are called lyotropic mesomorphs and, more
colloquially, liquid crystalline phases.
The enthalpy of micelle formation reflects the contributions of interactions between
micelle chains within the micelles and between the polar head groups and the surrounding medium. Consequently, enthalpies of micelle formation display no readily
discernible pattern and may be positive (endothermic) or negative (exothermic). Many
non-ionic micelles form endothermically, with H of the order of 10 kJ per mole of
surfactant. That such micelles do form above the CMC indicates that the entropy
change accompanying their formation must then be positive, and measurements suggest a value of about +140 J K1 mol1 at room temperature. The fact that the entropy
change is positive even though the molecules are clustering together shows that
hydrophobic interactions (Section 18.*) are important in the formation of micelles.

Surface
tension
Osmotic
pressure

CMC
Concentration of surfactant

The typical variation of some

La forma depende principalmente
physical properties ofde:!
an aqueous solution
of sodium dodecylsulfate close to the
Tamao del grupo cabeza!
critical micelle concentration (CMC).
Fuerza inca de la solucin!
Naturaleza y largo de la cola hidrofbica!
Fig. 19.40

FORMACIN DE LA MICELA.

Una micela se forma solamente cuando las molculas surfactantes alcanzan un
determinado valor de concentracin; CONCENTRACIN MICELAR CRTICA (CMC)

H = 1-2 kJ/mol
S = 140 J/ K mol
G = H - T S = - 40,2 kJ/mol

La CONCENTRACIN MICELAR
CRTICA (CMC) es detectada por
luster together in clumps of 1000 or more,
el abrupto cambio de una
y the electrostatic repulsions between head
fisico-qumica
depopula
s of propiedad
less than about
100. The micelle
Conmicelles
otras propiedades
es ofsolucin.
the individual
vary with con- el
cambioare
nomore
es abrupto.transicin.

but micelles
commonly flattened

s, a liposome may form, with an inward

ounded by an outward pointing outer layer
arry nonpolar drug molecules in blood. In
om surfactant molecules may take the form
easonably close-packed (hexagonal) arrays.
re called lyotropic mesomorphs and, more

cts the contributions of interactions between

etween the polar head groups and the surpies of micelle formation display no readily

Molar
conductivity

Physical property

magnetic resonance shows that the hydroe restricted than in the bulk. Micelles are
count of their solubilizing function: matter
en dissolved in their hydrocarbon interiors.
d as detergents, for organic synthesis, froth

mobile.

Surface
tension
Osmotic
pressure

CMC
Concentration of surfactant
The typical variation of some
physical properties of an aqueous solution
of sodium dodecylsulfate close to the
critical micelle concentration (CMC).
Fig. 19.40

Micelas

Son importantes en la industria y en la biologa en virtud de

su funcin solubilizante.

Son usados como detergentes, para sntesis orgnica, como espuma de flotacin y
recuperacin de petrleo.

Propiedades de las Micelas

En un medio acuoso, permiten un pequeo medio
interior hidrofbico

Posibilitan el secuestro de molculas grasas en el

interior de la micela (detergentes domsticos)

Bajo ciertas condiciones se puede formar un liposoma.

Pueden utilizarse para transportar molculas

de frmacos no polares en la sangre.

Algunas micelas a concentracin muy por encima de la CMC

forman lminas paralelas extendidas denominadas micelas
lamelares de dos molculas de espesor.