STUDIES ON THE PHYSICAL STATE OF WATER IN LIVING CELLS AND MODEL SYSTEMS .3. THE HIGH OSMOTIC ACTIVITIES OF AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS OF GELATIN, POLYVINYLPYRROLIDONE AND POLY (ETHYLENE-OXIDE) AND THEIR RELATION TO THE REDUCED SOLUBILITY FOR NA+, SUGARS, AND FREE AMINO-ACIDS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 15  (2) , 155-165
Abstract
Very high osmotic activities of concentrated aqueous solutions of gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone and poly(ethylene oxide) were recorded. These observed values are far above those predictable from the molar concentrations of these polymers, or those of aqueous solutions of native Hb of equal concentrations. These high osmotic activities are closely associated with the ability of the gelatin- or polymer-dominated water to exclude Na+ salts, sucrose and glycine. Both phenomena are interpreted as reflecting the polarization of multilayers of water by the polymers, enhancing the H2O to H2O interaction and also reducing the translational and rotational motional freedom of the water.