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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Hofmeister effects in supramolecular and biological systems
Pierandrea Lo Nostro1, Barry W Ninham, Silvia Milani
1Department of Chemistry and CSGI, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze), Italy. pln@csgi.unifi.it
Abstract:
Specific ion effects, representative of near-universal Hofmeister phenomena, are illustrated in three different systems. These are the formation of supramolecular assemblies from cyclodextrins, the optical rotation of L-serine, and the growth rate of two kinds of microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The strong specific ion effects can be correlated with the anion polarizabilities and related physico-chemical parameters. The results show the relevance of dispersion (non-electrostatic) forces in these phenomena.
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