On the occurrence of ternary complexes in agarose gels as studied by the contrast variation method.

The contrast variation method by isotopic labelling as used in small-angle neutron scattering experiments is applied to the case of agarose systems (sol and gels) in order to cast some light on the occurrence of complexes (crystallosolvates). This approach proves to be helpful for giving further support to the existence of ternary complexes in agarose/water/DMSO gels and in agarose/DMSO sols. The results are discussed in the light of temperature-composition phase diagrams established previously.