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.