other a hydrophobically modified by alkyl chains dextran (MD). The formation mechanism and the inner structure of these nanoassemblies were analysed using surface tension measurements and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. The effect of a hydrophobic guest molecule, such as benzophenone (BZ), on the formation and stability of the nanoassemblies was also evaluated. MD exhibited the typical behaviour of a soluble amphiphilic molecule and adsorbed at the air/water interface. Whereas the injection of native beta-CDs in the solution beneath the adsorbed MID monolayer did not produce any change in the surface tension, that of the p beta CD resulted in an increase in the surface tension, indicating the desorption of the polymer from the interface. This result accounts for a cooperative effect of beta-CDs linked together in the p beta CD polymer on dextran desorption. The presence of benzophenone in the system hindered the sequestration of dextran alkyl moieties by beta-CD in the polymer without impeding the formation of associative nanoassemblies of 100-200 nm. H-1 NMR investigations demonstrated that, in the BZ-loaded nanoassemblies, the hydrophobic molecule was mainly located into the cyclodextrin cavities. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.