Polyelectrolyte complexes particles, sizing

Mende M, Schwarz S, Petzold G, Jaeger W (2007) Destabilization of model silica dispersions by polyelectrolyte complex particles with differoit charge excess, hydrophobicity, and particle size. J Appl Polym Sci 103 3776... 

Polyelectrolyte complexes can be prepared in a desired range of mass, size and structure density. The behavior of the PECs can be controlled by external parameters such as the ionic strength, the pH of the medium or the temperature. Therefore, such complexes should be of great interest as potential carrier systems for drugs, enzymes, or DNA because charged species can easily be integrated into the complex particles. 

Mihai, M., Dragan, E.S., Schwarz, S., Janke, A. Dependency of particle sizes and colloidal stability of polyelectrolyte complex dispersions on polyanion structure and preparation mode investigated by dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy. J. Phys. Chem. B 2007, 111 (29), 8668-8675. 

Keeping the microcapsules at raised temperature can lead to the change in their size. (PSS/PDADMAC)5 microcapsules obtained on the basis of melamine formaldehyde particles increased in diameter from 5.5 up to 7.5 micrometers at heating (40°C, 2 hours). Possible reasons of such behavior are supposed to be connected with reorganization of the polyelectrolyte shell structure caused by the change of ionic contact number in a polyelectrolyte complex under the temperature influence. The loosening of the shells leads to the change of its extension, and the diameter of a microcapsule. 

The simplicity and sensitivity of the turbidimetric titration method as applied to protein-polyelectrolyte systems is based on the fact that turbidity increases with particle size [4,16]. One example is the complexation of bovine serum albumin... 

Particle size (Rq) of the complex NaPSS/PDADMAC at a molar ratio of 2 1 as a function of the salt concentration (ionic strength I). (Reprinted with permission from H. Dautzenberg, Polyelectrolyte Complex Formation in Highly Aggregating Systems. 1. Effect of Salt Polyelectrolyte Complex Formation in the Presence of NaCl, Macromolecules 30(25) 7810-7815. Copyright 1997 American Chemical Society.)... 

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