Neutral water-soluble polymers

The qualitative thermodynamic explanation of the shielding effect produced by the bound neutral water-soluble polymers was summarized by Andrade et al. [2] who studied the interaction of blood with polyethylene oxide (PEO) attached to the surfaces of solids. According to their concept, one possible component of the passivity may be the low interfacial free energy (ysl) of water-soluble polymers and their gels. As estimated by Matsunaga and Ikada [3], it is 3.7 and 3.1 mJ/m2 for cellulose and polyvinylalcohol whereas 52.6 and 41.9 mJ/m2 for polyethylene and Nylon 11, respectively. Ikada et al. [4] also found that adsorption of serum albumin increases dramatically with the increase of interfacial free energy of the polymer contacting the protein solution. 

Neutral Water-Soluble Polymers Containing Nucleic Acid Bases. . . . 143... 

Neutral Water-Soluble Polymers Containing Nucleic Acid Bases... 

Phase transitions of aqueous polymer solutions have been the subject of several earlier reviews [97-104], In this review, we will focus primarily on the collapse of neutral water-soluble polymers in aqueous media and the var-... 

These products are neutral, water soluble polymers covering a range of solution viscosities (L=Low, M=Medium, H=High). 

Figure 5.19 Schematic depiction of a particle covered with a brush consisting of a polyelectrolyte block (dark line) and a neutral (water soluble) polymer block (gray line). Upon the addition of oppositely charged protein molecules (gray spheres), the polyelectrolyte block complexes with the protein, forming a net neutral phase. The neutral polymer block stabilizes this particle.

Complex coacervate core micelles are spontaneously formed when one mixes aqueous solutions of two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, if at least one of the polyelectrolytes is cormected to a neutral water-soluble polymer [51,52]. The formation of such micelles, and one possibility for their subsequent adsorption, is schematically shown in Figure 7.4 the polyelectrolytes form the complex coacervate core of the micelle while the neutral block forms the corona. 

Interactions between a solid surface that is covered by a gel layer and natural components has been reviewed. There have been many studies reported on attempts to inhibit interaction wifii natural components using neutral water soluble polymers. However, attempts have been made recently to control interaction actively by using stimuli-responsive polymers. Furthermore, a concept to use modified natural components has also been proposed. 

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