The Effect of Salt Concentration on Adsorption of Low-Charge-Density Polyelectrolytes and Interactions between Polyelectrolyte-Coated Surfaces

Layer-by-Layer Deposition of Kraft Lignin and PEDOT:PSS

Kraft lignin (KL) is a sustainable carbon-based substance with a potential use in photovoltaic materials. However, its conductivity is low, but it can be improved via incorporation with a conductive polymer, such as poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS). This study examines the factors affecting the interaction of KL and PEDOT:PSS (PS) in a solution state using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and a stagnation point refractometer (SPAR). The results confirmed that aqueous environments, e.g., pH and ionic strengths, considerably affected particle size and zeta potential of KL and PS due to protonation, deprotonation, particle aggregation, and charge screening. The polymers exhibited the largest adsorbed mass and thickness at pH 6 and 10 mM NaCl on a solid surface, which was attributed to the relatively linear structure of PEDOT chains, exposing more adsorptive sites for interaction with KL. A 10 mM NaCl concentration facilitated the screening of charges on PS and KL surfaces, diminishing repulsive forces and enabling hydrophobic and cationic-π interaction, which led to increased adsorption. Contact angle and SEM investigations of the adsorbed layer revealed the water contact angle increasing and the morphology changing from a smoother layer to a porous surface, providing further evidence of adsorption. Furthermore, the conductivity was improved by the introduction of a PS adlayer on ITO glass when it was sandwiched between KL adsorbed layers. These findings provide insight into KL and PS interaction and suggest that KL can be used with PS for conductive materials, such as photovoltaics, imparting the waterproofness of the films.

Temporal Changes of Adsorbed Layer Thickness and Electrophoresis of Polystyrene Sulfate Latex Particles after Long Incubation of Oppositely Charged Polyelectrolytes with Different Charge Densities

The different desorption concepts of the two polyelectrolytes PTMA5M and PTMC5M, which have similar molecular weights and differ in the charge density on the polystyrene sulfate latex (PSL) particles by 25 times, and with various charge densities in a long incubation, were systematically investigated based on hydrodynamic adsorbed layer thickness (δ_H) and electrophoretic mobility (EPM) under two ionic strengths in the present study. Herein, in the case of highly charged polyelectrolyte PTMA5M, desorption continued for 4 h and re-adsorbing proceeded after a longer incubation time higher than 4 h. Meanwhile, in the case of lowly charged polyelectrolyte PTMC5M, an adsorption-desorption equilibrium was suggested to take into account the unchanging of both δ_H and EPM.

Nonelectrostatic Adsorption of Polyelectrolytes and Mediated Interactions between Solid Surfaces

Polymer-mediated interaction between two solid surfaces is directly connected to the properties of the adsorbed polymer layers. Nonelectrostatic interactions with a surface can significantly impact the adsorption of polyelectrolytes to charged surfaces. We use a classical density functional theory to study the effect of various polyelectrolyte solution properties on the adsorption and interaction between two like-charged surfaces. Our results show that nonelectrostatic interactions not only enhance polyelectrolyte adsorption but can also result in qualitatively different salt effects with respect to the adsorbed amount. In particular, we observe decreasing, increasing, and a previously unreported nonmonotonic behavior in the adsorbed amount of polymer with added salt under the conditions studied, although the nonmonotonic regime only occurs for a narrow range in the parameter space. With sufficient nonelectrostatic adsorption, the adsorbed polymer layers produce a long-range repulsive barrier that is strong enough to overcome dispersive interactions that cause surfaces to attract. Concurrently, a short-range bridging attraction is observed when the two polyelectrolyte layers span both the surfaces. Both the repulsive barrier and bridging attraction depend on the charge density of the polymer backbone and the bulk salt concentration but not on the chain length in the semidilute regime studied.

Principles of Dispersing Powders for 3D Printing

During the past 30 years, more and more 3D-printing techniques based on suspensions with specific rheological properties have been innovated and improved. In this review, principles of dispersing and controlling powders for suspension-based 3D printing are summarized. The suspensions for direct ink writing (DIW) are taken as an example for 3D printing. According to the rheological property requirement of suspensions for direct ink writing, the routes on how its rheological properties can be manipulated are summarized and classified into two categories: I. self-solidification route; II. assistant-solidification route. The perspective on the future of 3D-printing techniques based on suspensions is also discussed.

Potential of Manuka Honey as a Natural Polyelectrolyte to Develop Biomimetic Nanostructured Meshes With Antimicrobial Properties

The use of antibiotics has been the cornerstone to prevent bacterial infections; however, the emergency of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is still an open challenge. This work aimed to develop a delivery system for treating soft tissue infections for: (1) reducing the released antimicrobial amount, preventing drug-related systemic side effects; (2) rediscovering the beneficial effects of naturally derived agents; and (3) preserving the substrate functional properties. For the first time, Manuka honey (MH) was proposed as polyelectrolyte within the layer-by-layer assembly. Biomimetic electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) meshes were treated via layer-by-layer assembly to obtain a multilayered nanocoating, consisting of MH as polyanion and poly-(allylamine-hydrochloride) as polycation. Physicochemical characterization demonstrated the successful nanocoating formation. Different cell lines (human immortalized and primary skin fibroblasts, and primary endothelial cells) confirmed positively the membranes cytocompatibility, while bacterial tests using Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria demonstrated that the antimicrobial MH activity was dependent on the concentration used and strains tested.

Overcharging and reentrant condensation of thermoresponsive ionic microgels

We investigated the complexation of thermoresponsive anionic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM) microgels and cationic ε-polylysine (ε-PLL) chains. By combining electrophoresis, light scattering, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dielectric spectroscopy (DS) we studied the adsorption of ε-PLL onto microgel networks and its effect on the stability of suspensions. We show that the volume phase transition (VPT) of microgels triggers a large polyion adsorption. Two interesting phenomena with unique features occur: a temperature-dependent microgel overcharging and a complex reentrant condensation. The latter may occur at fixed polyion concentration, when temperature is raised above the VPT of microgels, or by increasing the number density of polycations at fixed temperature. TEM and DS measurements unambiguously show that short PLL chains adsorb onto microgels and act as electrostatic glue above the VPT. By performing thermal cycles, we further show that polyion-induced clustering is a quasi-reversible process: within the time of our experiments large clusters form above the VPT and partially re-dissolve as the mixtures are cooled down. Finally we give a proof that the observed phenomenology is purely electrostatic in nature: an increase of the ionic strength gives rise to polyion desorption from the microgel outer shell.

Stability of biogenic metal(loid) nanomaterials related to the colloidal stabilization theory of chemical nanostructures

In the last 15 years, the exploitation of biological systems (i.e. plants, bacteria, mycelial fungi, yeasts, and algae) to produce metal(loid) (Me)-based nanomaterials has been evaluated as eco-friendly and a cost-effective alternative to the chemical synthesis processes. Although the biological mechanisms of biogenic Me-nanomaterial (Bio-Me-nanomaterials) production are not yet completely elucidated, a key advantage of such bio-nanostructures over those chemically synthesized is related to their natural thermodynamic stability, with several studies ascribed to the presence of an organic layer surrounding these Bio-Me-nanostructures. Different macromolecules (e.g. proteins, peptides, lipids, DNA, and polysaccharides) or secondary metabolites (e.g. flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, organic acids, and alkaloids) naturally produced by organisms have been indicated as main contributors to the stabilization of Bio-Me-nanostructures. Nevertheless, the chemical-physical mechanisms behind the ability of these molecules in providing stability to Bio-Me-nanomaterials are unknown. In this context, transposing the stabilization theory of chemically synthesized Me-nanomaterials (Ch-Me-nanomaterials) to biogenic materials can be used towards a better comprehension of macromolecules and secondary metabolites role as stabilizing agents of Bio-Me-nanomaterials. According to this theory, nanomaterials are generally featured by high thermodynamic instability in suspension, due to their high surface area and surface energy. This feature leads to the necessity to stabilize chemical nanostructures, even during or directly after their synthesis, through the development of (i) electrostatic, (ii) steric, or (iii) electrosteric interactions occurring between molecules and nanomaterials in suspension. Based on these three mechanisms, this review is focused on parallels between the stabilization of biogenic or chemical nanomaterials, suggesting which chemical-physical mechanisms may be involved in the natural stability of Bio-Me-nanomaterials. As a result, macromolecules such as DNA, polyphosphates and proteins may electrostatically interact with Bio-Me-nanomaterials in suspension through their charged moieties, showing the same properties of counterions in Ch-Me-nanostructure suspensions. Since several biomolecules (e.g. neutral lipids, nonionic biosurfactants, polysaccharides, and secondary metabolites) produced by metal(loid)-grown organisms can develop similar steric hindrance as compared to nonionic amphiphilic surfactants and block co-polymers generally used to sterically stabilize Ch-Me-nanomaterials. These biomolecules, most likely, are involved in the development of steric stabilization, because of their bulky structures. Finally, charged lipids and polysaccharides, ionic biosurfactants or proteins with amphiphilic properties can exert a dual effect (i.e. electrostatic and steric repulsion interactions) in the contest of Bio-Me-nanomaterials, leading to the high degree of stability observed.

Interaction Forces between Pegylated Star-Shaped Polymers at Mica Surfaces

We present a study focused on characterizing the interaction forces between mica surfaces across solutions containing star-shaped polymers with cationic ends. Using the surface forces apparatus, we show that the interaction forces in pure water between surfaces covered with the polymers can be adequately described by the dendronized brush model. In that framework, our experimental data suggest that the number of branches adsorbed at the surface decreases as the concentration of polymer in the adsorbing solution increases. The onset of interaction was also shown to increase with the concentration of polymer in solution up to distances much larger than the contour length of the polymer, suggesting that the nanostructure of the polymer film is significantly different from that of a monolayer. High compression of the polymer film adsorbed at low polymer concentration revealed the appearance of a highly structured hydration layer underneath the polymer layer. These results support that charged polymer chains do not necessarily come into close contact with the surface even if strong electrostatic interaction is present. Altogether, our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the interfacial behavior of star-shaped polymers and reveal the unexpected role of hydration water in the control of the polymer conformation.

Adsorption of flexible polyelectrolytes on charged surfaces

Adsorption of weakly charged polyelectrolyte (PE) chains from dilute solution on an oppositely charged surface is studied using the self-consistent mean-field approach. The structure of the adsorbed polymer layer and its excess charge are analyzed in the most important asymptotic and intermediate regimes both analytically and numerically. Different regimes of surface charge compensation by PE chains including partial and full charge inversion are identified and discussed in terms of physical parameters like the magnitude of specific short-range interactions of PE segments with the surface, solvent quality and ionic strength. The effect of excluded-volume monomer interactions is considered quantitatively both in the marginally good and poor solvent regimes.

Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of Polyelectrolyte Adsorption Dependence on Molecular Weight

This work focuses on adsorption of polyions onto oppositely charged surfaces and on responses to the addition of a simple monovalent salt as well as to the polyion length (degree of polymerization). We also discuss possible mechanisms underlying observed differences, of the adsorbed amount on silica surfaces at high pH, between seemingly similar polyions. This involves theoretical modeling, utilizing classical polymer density functional theory (DFT). We furthermore investigate how long- and short-chain versions of the polymer adsorb onto carboxymethylated cellulose, carrying a high negative charge. Interestingly enough, comparing results obtained for the two different surfaces, we observe an opposite qualitative response for the molecular weight. The large polymer adsorbs more strongly at a silica surface, but for cellulose at low salt levels, there are indications that the trend is opposite. Another difference is the very slow adsorption process observed for cellulose, particularly with short polymers; in fact, with short polymers, we were sometimes unable to establish any adsorption plateau at all. We speculate that the slow dynamics is due to a gradual diffusion of short polymers into the cellulose matrix. This phenomenon could also explain why short-chain polymers seem to adsorb more strongly than long-chain ones, at low salt concentrations, provided that the latter then are too large to enter the cellulose pores. Cellulose swelling at high salt concentrations might diminish these differences, leading to more similar adsorbed amounts or even a lower adsorption for short chains.

Effect of charge balance and dosage of polyelectrolyte complexes on the shear resistance of mineral floc strength and reversibility

We evaluated the effect of polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) with varying balance of charges on the flocculation of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) particles. PECs composed of polyacrylamides carrying opposite charges (A-PAM and C-PAM) were investigated in terms of PCC floc shear resistance and re-flocculation effects. Light transmission was used in real time to monitor the dynamics of flocculation under shear fields. Compared to the single polyelectrolytes, PECs greatly enhanced particle re-flocculation while minor differences in shear resistance were observed. Shear resistance and re-flocculation depended strongly on the molecular weight and charge ratio of the PEC components. In order to achieve floc stability and re-flocculation conditions a minimum concentration of charge-asymmetric PEC should be applied.

Layer-by-Layer Thin Films of Alginate/Chitosan and Hyaluronic Acid/Chitosan with Tunable Thickness and Surface Roughness

Layer-by-layer (LbL) is a bottom-up technique used for construction of films with self-assembly and self-organizing properties. In most cases, the fundamental driving force for the formation of these films is originated from the electrostatic interaction between oppositely charged species. The charged segments of polyelectrolytes behave as small building units and their orientation and position can be designed to target structures of great complexity. Furthermore, the technique enables the use of various materials, including natural polymers. In this work, we chose the cationic biopolymer chitosan (CHI) and the negative polyelectrolytes sodium alginate (ALG) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ionic strength (0 versus 200 mM) and pH (3 versus 5) on ALG/CHI and HA/CHI nanostructured multilayered thin films properties. From profilometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses, changes in thickness and roughness of the coatings were monitored. The presence of salt in polyelectrolyte solutions induced the polymer chains to adopt conformations with more loops and tails and this arrangement in solution was transmitted to films, resulting in rougher surfaces. Furthermore, the film thickness can be precisely controlled by adjusting the pH of the polyelectrolyte solution. The variation of these parameters shows that it is possible to molecularly control chemical and structural properties of nanostructured coatings, thus opening up new possibilities of application (e.g. cell adhesion).

Polyelectrolyte adsorption on solid surfaces: theoretical predictions and experimental measurements

This work utilizes a combination of theory and experiments to explore the adsorption of two different cationic polyelectrolytes onto oppositely charged silica surfaces at pH 9. Both polymers, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), PDADMAC, and poly(4-vinyl N-methylpyridinium iodide), PVNP, are highly charged and highly soluble in water. Another important aspect is that a silica surface carries a relatively high surface charge density at this pH level. This means that we have specifically chosen to investigate adsorption under conditions where electrostatics can be expected to dominate the interactions. Of specific focus in this work is the response of the adsorption to the addition of simple salt (i.e., a process where electrostatics is gradually screened out). Theoretical predictions from a recently developed correlation-corrected classical density functional theory for polyelectrolytes are evaluated by direct quantitative comparisons with corresponding experimental data, as obtained by ellipsometry measurements. We find that, at low concentrations of simple salt, the adsorption increases with ionic strength, reaching a maximum at intermediate levels (about 200 mM). The adsorption then drops but retains a finite level even at very high salt concentrations, indicating the presence of nonelectrostatic contributions to the adsorption. In the theoretical treatment, the strength of this relatively modest but otherwise largely unknown nonelectrostatic surface affinity was estimated by matching predicted and experimental slopes of adsorption curves at high ionic strength. Given these estimates for the nonelectrostatic part, experimental adsorption data are essentially captured with quantitative accuracy by the classical density functional theory.

Interaction and structure in polyelectrolyte/clay multilayers: a QCM-D study

This study focuses on the investigation of the influence of the ionic strength on the internal structure, film forming behavior, and swelling properties of polyelectrolyte/clay multilayers. Layer-by-layer films were prepared with three different polyelectrolytes [polyethylenimine (PEI), polydiallyldimethylammoniumchloride (pDADMAC), and 2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium propyl chloride starch (HPMA starch)] in combination with laponite clay platelets on three different surfaces. All experiments were carried out at two different ionic strengths (30 mM or 500 mM NaCl). The experiments performed with strong polyelectrolytes revealed a higher film thickness and adsorbed masses of clay and polyelectrolyte at 500 mM NaCl. The films containing PEI showed different behavior and were considerably less sensitive to changes in the ionic strength. This was also reflected by the swelling behavior as demonstrated by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) measurements. Films comprising PEI showed, in contrast to the other polyelectrolytes, much lower swelling in water leading to more compact and stable films in humid environments which is important for numerous applications of LbL clay coatings.

Monolayers of cationic polyelectrolytes on mica--electrokinetic studies

Physicochemical properties of cationic polyelectrolytes: poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), poly(ethylene imine) (PEI), and poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA), having molar mass of 70,000, 75,000, and 120,000, respectively, were examined and compared. The bulk characteristics comprised the diffusion coefficient and electrophoretic mobility determined as a function of pH (3.5-9) and ionic strengths (10(-4) M to 0.15 M NaCl). These measurements allowed one to determine theamount of electrokinetic charge of the polyelectrolyte molecules and their isoelectric points. On the other hand, formation of polyelectrolyte monolayers on mica and their properties were investigated using the in situ streaming potential method. Additionally, using this method, the stability of monolayers, evaluated via desorption kinetic measurements, was determined. The investigations showed that PAH molecules form the most stable monolayers, which can be used as supporting layers for particle deposition and multilayer formation.

Enhanced dewatering of polyelectrolyte nanocomposites by hydrophobic polyelectrolytes

We demonstrate that increasing the hydrophobic environment around the charge center of a polyelectrolyte (PE) not only decreases the water content of an adsorbed PE layer but can even dewater up to ~50% of an initially hydrated substrate. The results of this work are expected to yield new stratagies to dewater PE systems and have potential applications in mineral recovery, paper manufacturing, and biomedical materials. Adsorption of a series of cationically derivatized dextran polyelectrolytes onto sulfated nanocrystalline cellulose (SNC) has been studied using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Synthesized samples of (N,N-dimethylamino)ethyldextran (DMAE-Dex), (N,N-diethylamino)ethyldextran (DEAE-Dex), and (N,N-diisopropylamino)ethyldextran (DIAE-Dex) had degrees of substitution (DS) ranging from 0.05 to 0.82. DMAE-Dex, DEAE-Dex, and DIAE-Dex all showed decreasing adsorption onto SNC and decreasing water content of the adsorbed film with increasing DS. Additionally, DEAE-Dex and DIAE-Dex films adsorbed onto SNC contained less water than DMAE-Dex films with the same DS. Interestingly, QCM-D results for high DS DIAE-Dex adsorbed onto SNC revealed mass loss, whereas SPR results clearly showed DIAE-Dex adsorbed. These observations were consistent with dehydration of the SNC substrate. This study indicates that the water content of the substrate could be tailored by controlling the DS and hydrophobic character of the adsorbed polyelectrolytes.

Creating water vapor barrier coatings from hydrophilic components

The preparation of water vapor barrier coatings composed of polyelectrolyte/clay multilayers using the layer-by-layer technique is reported. The suitability of different synthetic and renewable polyelectrolytes for the preparation of barrier coatings in combination with montmorillonite (MMT) platelets as well as the influence of the ionic strength and the number of bilayers on the coating performance was investigated. Highly hydrophilic and permeable cellulose films were used as substrate for determining the influence of the coatings on the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). Improved barrier properties were realized by the use of polyethylene imine (PEI) or 2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium propyl chloride starch (HPMA starch) in combination with MMT. After the application of only 5 bilayers of PEI and MMT (thickness ∼40 nm) on each side of the cellulose film, the WVTR was significantly reduced. By the deposition of 40 PEI/MMT bilayers, the WVTR transmission rate was reduced by 68%. However, HPMA starch containing coatings led to vapor transmission reduction of up to 32% at the same number of coating steps. A strong correlation between the barrier properties of the coatings and the layer thickness was observed. The barrier properties of the coatings could be increased using higher ionic strengths. These results represent unprecedented water vapor barrier properties for coatings prepared from hydrophilic materials.

Calcium mediated polyelectrolyte adsorption on like-charged surfaces

Monte Carlo simulations within the primitive model of calcium-mediated adsorption of linear and comb polyelectrolytes onto like-charged surfaces are described, focusing on the effect of calcium and polyion concentrations as well as on the ion pairing between polymers and calcium ions. We use a combination of Monte Carlo simulations and experimental data from titration and calcium binding to quantify the ion pairing. The polymer adsorption is shown to occur as a result of surface overcharging by Ca(2+) and ion pairing between charged monomers and Ca(2+). In agreement with experimental observations, the simulations predict that the polymer adsorption isotherm goes through a maximum as the calcium or the polymer concentration is increased. The non-Langmuir isotherms are rationalized in terms of charge-charge correlations.

Direct surface force measurements of polyelectrolyte multilayer films containing nanocrystalline cellulose

Polyelectrolyte multilayer films containing nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) make up a new class of nanostructured composite with applications ranging from coatings to biomedical devices. Moreover, these materials are amenable to surface force studies using colloid-probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM). For electrostatically assembled films with either NCC or PAH as the outermost layer, surface morphology was investigated by AFM and wettability was examined by contact angle measurements. By varying the surrounding ionic strength and pH, the relative contributions from electrostatic, van der Waals, steric, and polymer bridging interactions were evaluated. The ionic cross-linking in these films rendered them stable under all solution conditions studied although swelling at low pH and high ionic strength was inferred. The underlying polymer layer in the multilayered film was found to dictate the dominant surface forces when polymer migration and chain extension were facilitated. The precontact normal forces between a silica probe and an NCC-capped multilayer film were monotonically repulsive at pH values where the material surfaces were similarly and fully charged. In contrast, at pH 3.5, the anionic surfaces were weakly charged but the underlying layer of cationic PAH was fully charged and attractive forces dominated due to polymer bridging from extended PAH chains. The interaction with an anionic carboxylic acid probe showed similar behavior to the silica probe; however, for a cationic amine probe with an anionic NCC-capped film, electrostatic double-layer attraction at low pH, and electrostatic double-layer repulsion at high pH, were observed. Finally, the effect of the capping layer was studied with an anionic probe, which indicated that NCC-capped films exhibited purely repulsive forces which were larger in magnitude than the combination of electrostatic double-layer attraction and steric repulsion, measured for PAH-capped films. Wherever possible, DLVO theory was used to fit the measured surface forces and apparent surface potentials and surface charge densities were calculated.

Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Spectroscopy for Investigating the Adsorption of a Porphyrin at the Glass/Water Interface in the Presence of a Cationic Surfactant Below the Critical Micelle Concentration

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) spectroscopy was used to investigate the adsorption behavior of meso-tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) at the glass/water interface in the presence of a cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) far below the critical micelle concentration. The adsorption model of TPPS at the glass/water interface in the presence of low concentration of CTAB was proposed, which was different from the adsorption of TPPS in the presence of micelles of CTAB at the glass/water interface. TPPS and CTAB did not form stable complex at the interface in dilute system. The interfacial species of TPPS were analyzed by comparing the spectra of TPPS at the glass/water interface and in the aqueous phase. The influences of the TPPS concentration, the CTAB concentration, and the pH values on the interfacial fluorescence spectra and intensities were studied. It was demonstrated that electrostatic interaction and hydrophobicity performed an important role on the adsorption of TPPS in the presence of CTAB. The different effects of TPPS concentration on the adsorption behaviour of TPPS at different pH were observed for the first time. It was found that the adsorption isotherms of TPPS at glass/water interface could fit Freundlich equation at pH 7.1.

The role of polycarboxylic acids in calcium phosphate mineralization

The role of two polyelectrolytes, poly-L-glutamate and poly-L-aspartate, in the growth of calcium phosphate crystal phases, has been investigated at constant supersaturation. Both molecules are strong inhibitors of HAP growth when present in the solution phase but also act as hydroxyapatite and (octacalcium phosphate)-like crystal nucleators when adsorbed on germanium surfaces. The structure of the polymers in solution is presented and various adsorption models are analyzed. A "train-loop" structure of these long, flexible chain polymers on the crystal surface is consistent with all the adsorption (experimental and theoretical), inhibition, and electrophoretic mobility results.

Thin adsorbed films of a strong cationic polyelectrolyte on silica substrates

The adsorption of poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) (DADMAC) on planar silica substrates was examined as a function of ionic strength and pH. The study was carried out with reflectometry in an impinging-jet cell and complemented by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ellipsometry investigations. The adsorption process is initially transport limited, whereby the adsorption rate increases somewhat with increasing ionic strength. This effect is caused by a simultaneous decrease of the hydrodynamic radius of the polymer. After a transient period, the adsorption process saturates and leads to an adsorption plateau. The plateau value increases strongly with increasing ionic strength. This increase can be explained by progressive screening of the electrostatic repulsion between the adsorbing polyelectrolyte chains, as can be rationalized by a random sequential adsorption (RSA) model. The adsorbed amount further increases with increasing pH, and this effect is probably caused by the corresponding increase of the surface charge of the silica substrate.

Adsorption of hydrophobically modified poly(acrylamide)-co-(acrylic acid) on an amino-functionalized surface and its response to the external solvent environment

The adsorption of hydrophobically modified poly(acrylamide)-co-(acrylic acid), designated as PAM-C14-AA (x%) (x = 5, 10, 20, representing the mole percent of acrylic acid units), at an amino-functionalized silicon surface was studied. The effect of polymer charge density was determined by varying the acrylic acid content of the copolymer. Characteristics of the adsorbed layer were evaluated by atomic force microscopy, water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the adsorption behavior of PAM-C14-AA (x%) is influenced by the balance among the electrostatic, hydrogen-bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. Adjusting the solution pH and polymer charge density significantly affects the morphology and thickness of the adsorbed film. Furthermore, it was found that the adsorbed PAM-C14-AA undergoes conformational rearrangements when the surface is wetted by selected organic solvents. The resultant morphology and wettability of the films indicated that the different affinities of the solvents for different segments of PAM-C14-AA (x%) can be considered to be the possible cause of the conformational rearrangements of adsorbed polymer.

Adsorption of randomly annealed polyampholytes at the silica-water interface

We have investigated the adsorption of randomly annealed polyampholytes containing [2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)] (DMAEMA), methacrylic acid (MAA), and [3-(2-methylpropionamido)propyl] trimethylammonium chloride (MAPTAC) with various molar compositions. The adsorption was performed from dilute aqueous solutions onto silicon substrates. The adsorbed layers were characterized by reflectivity techniques such as reflectometry, ellipsometry, and neutron specular reflection. As expected for annealed polyampholytes, the adsorption was found to depend strongly on the pH, with a maximum within the isoelectric domain of the polyampholyte. The monomer volume fraction profiles of the adsorbed layers were determined from neutron specular reflection measurements. In the isoelectric domain, the polyampholyte chains adopt a compact conformation, with a layer thickness of about 60 A. The polyampholyte layer is as dense as the adsorbed layer of fully charged polyelectrolyte but much thicker. Finally, we found that changing the ratio of neutral units along the polyampholyte chain in the isoelectric domain had no significant effect on the concentration profile of the adsorbed layer.

Surface forces mediated by charged polymers: effects of intrinsic chain stiffness

The strength and range of surface forces in a system consisting of charged polymers with variable intramolecular stiffness confined between two charged planar surfaces have been investigated by Monte Carlo simulations. The negatively charged surfaces are neutralized by polymers carrying charges of opposite sign. Introducing the intermediate intrinsic stiffness of the chains gives rise to a weaker, but more long-ranged attraction between the surfaces. In the limit of infinitely stiff chains, this bridging attraction is lost, but it is replaced by a strong correlation attraction at short distances. Comparisons with predictions by a correlation-corrected polyelectrolyte Poisson-Boltzmann theory are made. The theory predicts surface attractions that are somewhat too weak, but all qualitative features are correctly reproduced. Given the crudeness of the model, the quantitative agreement is satisfactory.

A generic mechanism of sliding friction between charged soft surfaces

A universal sliding friction mechanism between soft, electrically charged surfaces (e.g., those carrying polyelectrolytes) is proposed. The Coulomb field of the randomly distributed charges induces a damped motion of the charges of the opposite surface, which gives rise to dissipation, and thus to friction. It is predicted that this friction force, which diverges at zero separation, may overcome viscous friction at distances significantly exceeding the Bjerrum length. This is not only of fundamental interest, but also of potential importance in life science and many practical situations.

Adsorption of cationic polyelectrolyte at the solid/liquid interface and dispersion of nanosized silica in water

Adsorption of cationic polyelectrolyte, a homopolymer of maleimide propyl trimethylammonium chloride (MPTMAC), on silica nanoparticles from aqueous solution was studied. The adsorbed amount of MPTMAC and the adsorption layer thickness from solutions of different pH, polyelectrolyte concentration, salt type, and salt concentration were measured. The adsorbed amount exhibited a maximum as a function of the electrolyte concentration. The onset of the decline in the adsorbed amount depended on the type of counterions. The thickness of the adsorption layer increased gradually with increased of electrolyte concentration and leveled off at high electrolyte concentration. The enhanced adsorption in the presence of Na2SO4 can be explained by the bivalent SO4(2-) causing a better shielding effect. With increasing pH the adsorbed amount of MPTMAC increased, whereas the thickness of an adsorbed layer of MPTMAC decreased. At low polyelectrolyte concentrations unstable silica suspensions were observed from a stability test. At high polyelectrolyte concentrations the higher particle coverage caused electrosteric stabilization of the dispersion. However, further increase in MPTMAC concentration after saturated adsorption would flocculate the dispersed system. At low pH, MPTMAC tending to create a loops or tails conformation stabilized the suspension.

Recrystallization of bacterial S-layers on flat polyelectrolyte surfaces and hollow polyelectrolyte capsules

Polyelectrolyte multilayer (PE) deposition and S-layer technology have been combined to make novel robust biomimetic surfaces and membranes. Isolated subunits of the bacterial cell surface layer from Bacillus sphaericus CCM2177 SbpA was self-assembled on PE multilayer supports, with the composition of the multilayer playing a crucial role in determining the structure of the resulting supported protein layers. Flat substrates were studied using atomic force microscopy and neutron reflectometry; protein on suitable PE combinations showed a crystalline structure with lattice constants equal to those found in vivo on bacterial surfaces. The mechanical stability of the S-layer is higher when recrystallized on PEs than directly on silicon supports. The recrystallization process was subsequently used to coat colloidal particles, permitting the determination of zeta potentials before and after coating. Hollow capsules could also be coated in the same way, as proven by various techniques. Our results suggest that electrostatic interactions via divalent cations are important for the assembly process. The results also demonstrate that the versatility of the PE multilayer membranes can be successfully combined with the well-defined surface chemistry and structure of 2D protein crystals.

Polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules as vehicles with tunable permeability

This review is devoted to a novel type of polymer micro- and nanocapsules. The shell of the capsule is fabricated by alternate adsorption of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PEs) onto the surface of colloidal particles. Cores of different nature (organic or inorganic) with size varied from 0.1 to 10 mum can be used for templating such PE capsules. The shell thickness can be tuned in nanometer range by assembling of defined number of PE layers. The permeability of capsules depends on the pH, ionic strength, solvent, polymer composition, and shell thickness; it can be controlled and varied over wide range of substances regarding their molecular weight and charge. Including functional polymers into capsule wall, such as weak PEs or thermosensitive polymers, makes the capsule permeability sensitive to correspondent external stimuli. Permeability of the capsules is of essential interest in diverse areas related to exploitation of systems with controlled and sustained release properties. The envisaged applications of such capsules/vesicles cover biotechnology, medicine, catalysis, food industry, etc.

Investigation of interparticle forces in natural waters: effects of adsorbed humic acids on iron oxide and alumina surface properties

The nature of interparticle forces acting on colloid particle surfaces with adsorbed surface films of the internationally used humic acid standard material, Suwannee River Humic Acid (SHA), has been investigated using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Two particle surfaces were used, alumina and a hydrous iron oxide film coated onto silica particles. Adsorbed SHA dominated the interactive forces for both surface types when present. At low ionic strength and pH > 4, the force curves were dominated by electrostatic repulsion of the electrical double layers, with the extent of repulsion decreasing as electrolyte (NaCl) concentration increased, scaling with the Debye length (kappa(-1)) of the electrolyte according to classical theory. At pH approximately 4, electrostatic forces were largely absent, indicating almost complete protonation of carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups on the adsorbed SHA. Under these conditions and also at high electrolyte concentration ([NaCl] > 0.1 M), the absence of electrostatic forces allowed observation of repulsion forces arising from steric interaction of adsorbed SHA as the oxide surfaces approached closely to each other (separation < 10 nm). This steric barrier shrank as electrolyte concentration increased, implying tighter coiling of the adsorbed SHA molecules. In addition, adhesive bridging between surfaces was observed only in the presence of SHA films, implying a strong energy barrier to spontaneous detachment of the surfaces from each other once joined. This adhesion was especially strong in the presence of Ca2+ which appears to bridge SHA layers on each surface. Overall, our results show that SHA is a good model for the NOM adsorbed on colloids.