mam@charm.UUCP (Matthew Marcus) (08/13/85)
[Does the line-eater prefer all-natural blather?]
The recent discussion about sodium cromolyn prompts me to post some
physics-type information about this interesting compound, for what it's
worth. Maybe this is of some relevance to its action as an anti-asthmatic.
Sodium cromolyn (real name: disodium cromoglycate, DSCG) is a surfactant-
like compound which is noted for being able to take up vast amounts of water.
The solid crystal can swallow up to nine moles of water per mole of DSCG,
the water being retained in interstitial positions. Mixtures of DSCG
and water form lyotropic liquid crystal phases (nematic and columnar, for
those up on such things) whose detailed structure is still unclear. The
nematic phase can have up to 200 moles water/mole DSCG and still retain
orientational order.
The upshot of all this is that DSCG has a remarkable affinity for
and ability to structure water molecules, which may have something to do
with its use as an anti-athsmatic. In this use, it is inhaled as a dry
powder, which presumably sops up water from the lungs. Since I don't have
asthma, I can't tell what it feels like to make a liquid crystal inside my
lungs. It's marketed by Fison, under the name INTAL.
{BTL}!charm!mam