Complexation and coacervation of like-charged polyelectrolytes inspired by mussels
Complexation and coacervation of like-charged polyelectrolytes inspired by mussels
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DOI：
10.1073/pnas.1521521113
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发表时间：
2016-02-16
影响因子：
11.1
通讯作者：
Hwang, Dong Soo
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Kim, Sangsik;Huang, Jun;Hwang, Dong Soo
众所周知，聚电解质络合物和凝聚体可以在水溶液中混合相反电荷的聚电解质，这主要是由于相反电荷的聚合物之间的静电吸引。在这里，我们首次报道了(据我们所知)两种带正电的聚电解质的络合和凝聚，这为设计水下聚电解质之间强大的自愈相互作用和一种新的海洋贻贝启发的水下黏附机制提供了新的范例。与传统的络合物凝聚体不同，带相同电荷的凝聚体是通过克服排斥静电相互作用而通过强的短程阳离子-p相互作用而聚集的。带相同电荷的凝聚体的生成相包括一个薄而脆弱的聚电解质骨架和圆形而规则的孔，这意味着聚电解质骨架之间有很强的静电相关性。带相同电荷的凝聚体具有非常低的界面张力，这使得这种带正电荷的凝聚体能够应用于捕获、携带或包裹阴离子生物分子和粒子，应用范围很广。
It is well known that polyelectrolyte complexes and coacervates can form on mixing oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions, due to mainly electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged polymers. Here, we report the first (to the best of our knowledge) complexation and coacervation of two positively charged polyelectrolytes, which provides a new paradigm for engineering strong, self-healing interactions between polyelectrolytes underwater and a new marine mussel-inspired underwater adhesion mechanism. Unlike the conventional complex coacervate, the like-charged coacervate is aggregated by strong short-range cation-p interactions by overcoming repulsive electrostatic interactions. The resultant phase of the like-charged coacervate comprises a thin and fragile polyelectrolyte framework and round and regular pores, implying a strong electrostatic correlation among the polyelectrolyte frameworks. The like-charged coacervate possesses a very low interfacial tension, which enables this highly positively charged coacervate to be applied to capture, carry, or encapsulate anionic biomolecules and particles with a broad range of applications.