Amylose wrapped halloysite nanotubes

Amylose was isolated from starch-rich yam, Dioscorea opposita Thunb. and used to prepare a halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) supramolecular structure by mechanical force. The thus obtained amylose wrapped halloysite nanotubes (amylose-HNTs) were characterized subsequently. Transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis showed that the walls of the HNTs were wrapped with an amylose component (about 44.1 wt%). FTIR indicated that structural changes to amylose were related to the C-O-C groups of amylose in the interaction between amylose and the outer surface of the HNTs. Good dispersion of amylose-HNT in the DMSO/H2O solution also illustrated that an interaction existed between amylose and the HNT outer surface.