Phase Behavior and Electrochemical Properties of Highly Asymmetric Redox Coacervates

Theoretical treatment of complex coacervate core micelles: structure and pH-induced disassembly

“…This strategy was extensively used in the past by our 31,32 and other 33–35 groups and provides a simple and chemically intuitive picture of the complexation process. Moreover, it was able to quantitatively fit the binodal phase diagrams of polyelectrolyte/polyelectrolyte 31 and polyelectrolyte/multivalent-ion 51 coacervates. The simplicity and quantitative performance of this strategy comes at the cost of introducing two fitting (although chemically meaningful) parameters, i.e.…”

“…We have previously shown that this approach can quantitatively fit the experimental phase diagrams of bulk polyelectrolyte coacervates. 31,51 We apply here the theory to C3Ms composed of a block copolymer and an oppositely charged homopolymer. Our theory predicts the formation of a hydrated charge-stoichiometric core stabilized by ion-pairing interactions.…”

Poly(allylamine)-tripolyphosphate Ionic Assemblies as Nanocarriers: Friend or Foe?

“…One of the most relevant challenges in nanomedicine is obtaining nanocarriers with simple and sustainable synthetic routes, high drug loading capacity, robustness in physiological environments, and good biocompatibility. , In this context, nanomaterials based on polyelectrolytes are especially interesting due to the great diversity and availability of this class of polymer. , In addition, many of these macromolecules are easily solubilized in aqueous media, which allow highly sustainable preparation routes to be applied without the need for the use of toxic and expensive organic solvents. Because of their large number of charges, polyelectrolytes can assemble in an aqueous solution with other oppositely charged species (i.e., polyelectrolytes, surfactants, enzymes, proteins, and multivalent ions) to generate complexes that, depending on the experimental conditions, acquire different configurations including complex coacervates, solid precipitates, layer-by-layer films, and nanocomplexes. − …”