Interpolymer interaction, attractive

Interbiopolymer complexes are formed in aqueous media between oppositely charged biopolymers, when the attractive forces between non-identical macromolecules are larger than between macromolecules of the same type. Interbiopolymer complexes can be both soluble (system 1) and insoluble (system 2). It has been shown that nonspecific interpolymer interactions can be reversible and non-reversible and cooperative and noncooperative in nature (Tolstoguzov et al. 1985). 

Biomacromolecules may be either polycations or polyanions, depending on their functional groups. Among various macromolecules, proteins and polysaccharides are often used simultaneously in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries knowledge of their interactions is therefore of great importance in controlling the structure and texture of manufactured products. The interactions between proteins and polysaccharides can be either repulsive or attractive. Attractive interactions induce interpolymer complexes, which mostly arise from electrostatic interactions between opposite charges on the polymers. 

Complexation in its various forms plays a key role in the homo- and copolymerization of 1-alky 1-4-vinylpyridinium ions. Intermonomer associations are believed responsible for the enhanced poly-merizability of monomers with long alkyl chains (C , n > 6) on nitrogen, the ability of the title monomers to copolymerize with anionic and Ti-rich monomers, and the strong dependence on concentration for homopolymerization of all these cationic monomers. Hydrophobic interactions between lipophilic monomers, electrostatic attraction between cationic and anionic monomers, and charge-transfer complexation between Ti-rich and Ti-deficient monomers have all been observed to control polymer formation. Monomer organization/orientation on polyanion templates, at organic solvent-water interfaces and in ordered multiple-phase systems such as micelles, membranes, vesicles, and microemulsions have been used with limited success in attempts to control the microstructure (e.g. tacticity, monomer sequence) in the related polymers. Interpolymer complexes of poly(l-alky 1-4-vinylpyridinium ions) with natural and synthetic poly anions represent a rich resource for the development of selective electroanalytical methods, for efficient new separation procedures, for manipulation of biomembranes in drug dehvery, and numerous other applications. 

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