Precise Characterization of Macromolecular Assemblies for Quality Control of Biomaterials

大分子组装体被用作药物输送系统、纳米载体或生物传感器等生物材料。大分子组装的精确表征对于控制这些生物材料的质量是至关重要的。在这项研究中，我们建立了表征温敏性嵌段共聚物和聚电解质络合物在溶液中组装的方法。所研究的三种温敏性嵌段共聚物均为弱分离和弱两亲性嵌段共聚物，同时发生了胶束化和相分离。用小角X射线散射对溶液中的胶束和浓相液滴进行了表征。用静态光散射法和电泳光散射法测定了两个聚阴离子和两个聚阳离子在水溶液中的四种组合的每个聚电解质络合物的净电荷数和总电荷数(或聚集数)，以与提出的络合物形成机理进行比较。

Macromolecular assemblies are utilized as biomaterials like drug delivery system, nano-carrier, or bio-sensor. Precise characterization of macromolecular assemblies is essential to control the quality of those biomaterials. In this study, we have established the method for characterizing assemblies of thermoresponsive block copolymers and polyelectrolyte complexes in solution. Simultaneous micellization and phase separation took place in three thermoresponsive block copolymers investigated, all of which were weakly segregated and weakly amphiphilic block copolymers. Both micelles and concentrated-phase droplets in the solutions were characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering. The number of net charges and total charges (or the aggregation number) per the polyelectrolyte complex were determined by static and electrophoretic light scattering methods for four combinations of two polyanions and two polycations in aqueous solution to compare with proposed complex formation mechanism.