Adsorption of Polyampholytes

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9730777 Rubinstein Charged polymers have recently attracted much attention due to their unique properties and their technological importance as rheology modifiers, dispersing aids, stabilizers, gelling agents, binders, etc. Polyampholytes are polymers carrying both positive and negative charges. Polymers carrying only positive or negative charge are called polyelectrolytes. The net charge of polyampholytes, e.g., proteins, is determined by the pH of the aqueous solution. Long-range Coulomb interactions are responsible for the rich behavior of these polymeric systems and for the difficulties in developing theories to describe them. While the coherent picture of polyelectrolytes and their interactions with surfaces is beginning to emerge, the theoretical description of polyampholytes is lagging far behind. In particular, there is no satisfactory theory of polyampholyte adsorption. Such a theory is necessary for understanding the details of interactions of latex particles stabilized by polyampholytes, adsorption of proteins on cell membranes, complexation of polyampholytes with polyelectrolytes and related problems. In the current research both analytical and numerical models of polyampholyte adsorption on charged surfaces will be constructed and solved. The problems addressed will include: the adsorption of a single polyampholyte chain, multi-chain adsorption, and the kinetics of polyampholyte adsorption. %%% Charged polymers have recently attracted much attention due to their unique properties and their technological importance as rheology modifiers, dispersing aids, stabilizers, gelling agents, binders, etc. Polyampholytes are polymers carrying both positive and negative charges. Polymers carrying only positive or negative charge are called polyelectrolytes. The net charge of polyampholytes, e.g., proteins, is determined by the pH of the aqueous solution. Long-range Coulomb interactions are responsible for the rich behavior of these polymeric systems and for the difficulties in developing theories to describe them. While the coherent picture of polyelectrolytes and their interactions with surfaces is beginning to emerge, the theoretical description of polyampholytes is lagging far behind. In particular, there is no satisfactory theory of polyampholyte adsorption. Such a theory is necessary for understanding the details of interactions of latex particles stabilized by polyampholytes, adsorption of proteins on cell membranes, complexation of polyampholytes with polyelectrolytes and related problems. In the current research both analytical and numerical models of polyampholyte adsorption on charged surfaces will be constructed and solved. The problems addressed will include: the adsorption of a single polyampholyte chain, multi-chain adsorption, and the kinetics of polyampholyte adsorption. ***