PROCESS FOR PRODUCING GEL WITH LIQUID CRYSTAL STRUCTURE, AND GEL WITH LIQUID CRYSTAL STRUCTURE PRODUCED BY THE PROCESS

摘要

A liquid crystal gel insoluble in water composed mainly of any of various water-soluble polymers with optical characteristics in which the water-soluble polymers per se simultaneously have a gelling capability and a liquid crystal forming capability. First, a water-soluble polymer is dissolved in water or a salt-containing aqueous solution to thereby obtain a polymer solution. This polymer solution is dialyzed in an aqueous solution containing a chemical crosslinking agent to thereby obtain a gel with liquid crystal structure composed mainly of the water-soluble polymer. As the water-soluble polymer, use is made of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of water-soluble biopolymers, derivatives thereof and water-soluble synthetic polymers. The water-soluble biopolymers consist of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids, polysaccharides, proteins, modified proteins and polyamino acids. The water-soluble synthetic polymers consist of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, polyacrylic acid and polystyrenesulfonic acid.