Zwitterionic Polyelectrolytes: A Review

Abstract

Recent progress in the field of zwitterionic polyelectrolytes is reviewed. This class of polyelectrolytes is only five decades old, since the first synthesis was in 1952. Polycarboxybetaines, polysulfobetaines, polyphosphobetaines and a few more zwitterionic materials compose this class of polymers. In the current search for ‘biomimicking’ materials, this class is particularly important. The responsive properties of polyzwitterions are specific, sensitive and instantaneous to a wide variety of external stimuli, which has been reviewed in this article. The synthesis of polyampholytes and polybetaines (homopolymers, copolymers, block polymers) are reviewed. The exploitation of such materials in solid state conducting materials, chromatographic materials and other applications has been incorporated. The extensive discussion on solution properties, antipolyelectrolytic characteristics and influence of varying class of electrolytes has been qualitative as well as quantitative providing an insight into the importance and relevance of such materials, the block polymers form reversible ‘schizophrenic’ micelles also.

Ultralow‐Fouling, Functionalizable, and Hydrolyzable Zwitterionic Materials and Their Derivatives for Biological Applications

“…1a) belongs to polybetaines, in which both cationic and anionic groups are on the same monomer residue, similar to phosphobetaine. [36,[38][39][40] In previous studies, sulfobetaine polymers were thought to be less fouling-resistant than phosphobetaine polymers. [41] Since sulfobetaines were attached onto hydrophobic substrates via sulfobetaine-hydrophobic diblock copolymers, it was harder to achieve high surface packing densities of sulfobetaine groups.…”

A glutamic acid-based polymer keeping intact the integrity of all the three original functionalities of the amino acid

“…The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMr) spectra were recorded using a 500-MHz JeOL LA spectrometer. The 1 H signal of tetramethylsilane (TMS) at δ 0 ppm in CDCl 3 , TSP-deuterated at δ 0 ppm in D 2 O, and the dioxane 13 C peak at δ 67.4 ppm in D 2 O were used as internal standards. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out using an SDT analyzer (Q600: TA Instruments, New Castle, De, USA) in a nitrogen atmosphere.…”

“…Note that in proteins or PGA, the basic character of the nitrogen is lost in the peptide or amide bond. In the current endeavor, monomer 4, a pH-responsive triprotic acid with unquenched nitrogen valence would be subjected to walk through Butler's cyclopolymerization protocol [12][13][14][15][16] to yield macromolecules bearing residues of glutamic acid ( Figure 1). Interesting solution properties of the new polymer are anticipated, and its use as an antiscalant will be tested.…”

Switchable Materials Containing Polyzwitterion Moieties

“…The cationic and anionic polymers exhibit the polyelectrolyte effect, i.e., the solubility and viscosity decrease upon addition of the electrolyte. On the other hand, in the case of the antipolyelectrolyte effect, the viscosity and solubility increase [24,72]. The addition of electrolyte to the polyzwitterion solution results in an expansion of the polymer chain, hence disintegration of the physical net formed by ions.…”

“…Structurally, zwitterions contain both a positive and a negative charge at different non-neighboring atoms and, simultaneously, the overall charge of the substance is neutral with highly ionic properties [24]. Moreover, they are considered to be biomimetic, since the basic zwitterionic structures appear in nature.…”