Paper
Influence of counterion type on the scattering of a semiflexible polyelectrolyte
Understanding the influence of counterion and backbone solvation on the conformational and thermodynamic properties of polyelectrolytes in solution is one of the main open challenges in polyelectrolyte science.
Hydrophobic fouling-resistant electrospun nanofiber membranes from poly(vinylidene fluoride)/polyampholyte blends
This study reports the fabrication of non-woven fibrous membranes from electrospinning blended solutions of PVDF with a random polyampholyte amphiphilic copolymer (r-PAC) in N,N-dimethylformamide and methanol.
Paper
Segregative phase separation of strong polyelectrolyte complexes at high salt and high polymer concentrations
Complexes of strong polyelectrolytes prepared well above the binodal are shown to undergo hydrophobicity-driven segregative phase separation.
Paper
Lowest gelation concentration in a complex-coacervate-driven self-assembly system, achieved by redox-RAFT synthesis of high molecular weight block polyelectrolytes
High molecular weight polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) micelles have been synthesized via redox-RAFT. These are extremely effective water thickeners at low concentration, even under high-salinity conditions, and are pH-responsive.
Paper
Covalently crosslinked coacervates: immobilization and stabilization of proteins with enhanced enzymatic activity
Thiol–ene photoclick chemistry produces chemically crosslinked coacervates with pH and salt tolerance that can encapsulate and protect functional biologics.
Effect of cosolvents on the phase separation of polyelectrolyte complexes
Non-monotonic dependence of polyelectrolyte complex solubility on the average dielectric constants is observed in solvent mixtures, as rationalized in the framework of Voorn–Overbeek theory including an effective Flory–Huggins term.
Paper
Engineering poly(dehydroalanine)-based gels via droplet-based microfluidics: from bulk to microspheres
By adapting existing bulk gelation protocols to droplet-based microfluidics, polyampholyte poly(dehydroalanine)-based microspheres were fabricated and evaluated regarding biomedical application.
Effects of charge asymmetry on the liquid–liquid phase separation of polyampholytes and their condensate properties
The role of charge-asymmetric polyampholytes is unveiled in the liquid–liquid phase separation of their mixtures with charge-symmetric polyampholytes.
Paper
Biocatalytic PEI–PSS membranes through aqueous phase separation: influence of casting solution pH and operational temperature
PEI–PSS membranes with lysozyme were prepared via one-step aqueous phase separation using different pH changes. The so formed membranes showed temperature-responsive enzymatic activity and kept 60% activity after 60 days.
About this collection
This collection, Guest Edited by Vivek Prabhu (NIST) and Ayse Asatekin (Tufts University) focuses on heteropolymers and polyelectrolyte complexes, with both fundamental and applied studies bringing together a growing interdisciplinary area in soft matter research. This field includes emerging applications in biomedicine, water purification and treatment, personal care, novel antimicrobial and antifouling coatings and layers, as well as the oil industry. The collection of review and research articles spans experimental, theoretical and computational research, and measurements that develop soft matter physics, interfacial science, and rheological fundamentals.