1
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Stevens KC, Tirrell MV. Impact of a Lightly Branched Star Polyelectrolyte Architecture on Polyelectrolyte Complexes. ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:688-694. [PMID: 38780149 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The effect of charge density in blocky and statistical linear polyelectrolytes on polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) properties has been studied with the finding that increased charge density in a polyelectrolyte tends to increase the salt resistance and modulus of a PEC across various polyelectrolyte pairs. Here, we demonstrate the ability to orthogonally alter PEC salt resistance while maintaining rheological properties and internal structure by going from linear to lightly branched architectures with similar total degrees of polymerization. Using a model system built around glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and thiol-epoxy "click" functionalization, we create a library of homologous linear, 4-armed, 6-armed, and 8-armed star polyelectrolytes. The PECs formed from these model polyelectrolyte pairs are then characterized via optical microscopy, rheology, and small-angle X-ray scattering to evaluate their salt resistance, mechanical properties, and internal structure. We argue that our results are due to the difference between linear charge density or charge per unit length along backbone segments for each polyelectrolyte and spatial charge density, the number of charges per unit volume of the polyelectrolyte prior to complexation. Our findings suggest that linear charge density is the dominant factor in determining intermolecular interactions of the complex, leading to identical rheological and structural behavior, whereas the spatial charge density primarily influences the stability of the complexes. These distinct mechanisms for altering various sought-after PEC properties offer greater potential applications in precision design of polyelectrolyte complex materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaden C Stevens
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Matthew V Tirrell
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
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2
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Lalwani S, Hellikson K, Batys P, Lutkenhaus JL. Counter Anion Type Influences the Glass Transition Temperature of Polyelectrolyte Complexes. Macromolecules 2024; 57:4695-4705. [PMID: 38827958 PMCID: PMC11140738 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c02200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Salt acts as a plasticizer in polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), which impacts the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties, thus having implications in applications, such as drug delivery, energy storage, and smart coatings. Added salt disrupts polycation-polyanion intrinsic ion pairs, lowering a hydrated PEC's glass transition temperature (Tg). However, the relative influence of counterion type on the PEC's Tg is not well understood. Here, the effect of anion type (NaCl, NaBr, NaNO3, and NaI) on the Tg of solid-like, hydrated PECs composed of poly(diallydimethylammonium) (PDADMA)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) is investigated. With increasing the chaotropic nature of the salt anion, the Tg decreases. The relative differences are attributed to the doping level, the amount of bound water, the mobility of water molecules within the PECs, and the strength of interactions between the PEs. For all studied salt concentrations and salt types, the Tg followed the scaling of -1/Tg ≈ ln([IP]/[H2O]), in which [IP]/[H2O] is the ratio of intrinsic pairs to water. The scaling estimates that about 7 to 17% of the intrinsic ion pairs should be weakened for the PEC to partake in a glass transition. Put together, this study highlights that the Tg in PECs is impacted by the salt anion, but the mechanism of the glass transition remains unchanged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvesh
Manoj Lalwani
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kayla Hellikson
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Piotr Batys
- Jerzy
Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8, Krakow PL-30239, Poland
| | - Jodie L. Lutkenhaus
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, United States
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3
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Eneh C, Nixon K, Lalwani SM, Sammalkorpi M, Batys P, Lutkenhaus JL. Solid-Liquid-Solution Phases in Poly(diallyldimethylammonium)/Poly(acrylic acid) Polyelectrolyte Complexes at Varying Temperatures. Macromolecules 2024; 57:2363-2375. [PMID: 38495383 PMCID: PMC10938883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The coacervation and complexation of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes are dependent on numerous environmental and preparatory factors, but temperature is often overlooked. Temperature effects remain unclear because the temperature dependence of both the dielectric constant and polymer-solvent interaction parameter can yield lower and/or upper critical solution phase behaviors for PECs. Further, secondary interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, can affect the temperature response of a PEC. That is, mixtures of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes can exhibit phase separation upon lowering and/or increasing the mixture's temperature. Here, the phase behavior of poly(diallylmethylammonium)/poly(acrylic acid) (PDADMA/PAA) complexes under varying KBr ionic strengths, mixing ratios, and temperatures at a fixed pH (in which PAA hydrogen bonding can occur) is examined. At room temperature, the PDADMA/PAA PECs exhibit four different phase states: precipitate, coexisting precipitate and coacervate, solid-like gel, and coacervate. Variable-temperature optical microscopy reveals the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) at which each phase transitioned to a solution state. Interestingly, the UCST value is highly dependent on the original phase of the PEC, in which solid-like precipitates exhibit higher UCST values. Large-scale all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations support that precipitates exhibit kinetic trapping, which may contribute to the higher UCST values observed in the experiment. Taken together, this study highlights the significance of temperature on the phase behavior of PECs, which may play a larger role in stimuli-responsive materials, membraneless organelles, and separations applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chikaodinaka
I. Eneh
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kevin Nixon
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Suvesh Manoj Lalwani
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department
of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto
University, P.O. Box 16100, Aalto 00076, Finland
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, Aalto 00076, Finland
- Academy
of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials
(LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, Aalto 00076, Finland
| | - Piotr Batys
- Jerzy
Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8, Krakow 30-239, Poland
| | - Jodie L. Lutkenhaus
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, United States
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4
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Staňo R, van Lente J, Lindhoud S, Košovan P. Sequestration of Small Ions and Weak Acids and Bases by a Polyelectrolyte Complex Studied by Simulation and Experiment. Macromolecules 2024; 57:1383-1398. [PMID: 38370910 PMCID: PMC10867894 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c01209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Mixing of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes can result in phase separation into a polymer-poor supernatant and a polymer-rich polyelectrolyte complex (PEC). We present a new coarse-grained model for the Grand-reaction method that enables us to determine the composition of the coexisting phases in a broad range of pH and salt concentrations. We validate the model by comparing it to recent simulations and experimental studies, as well as our own experiments on poly(acrylic acid)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) complexes. The simulations using our model predict that monovalent ions partition approximately equally between both phases, whereas divalent ones accumulate in the PEC phase. On a semiquantitative level, these results agree with our own experiments, as well as with other experiments and simulations in the literature. In the sequel, we use the model to study the partitioning of a weak diprotic acid at various pH values of the supernatant. Our results show that the ionization of the acid is enhanced in the PEC phase, resulting in its preferential accumulation in this phase, which monotonically increases with the pH. Currently, this effect is still waiting to be confirmed experimentally. We explore how the model parameters (particle size, charge density, permittivity, and solvent quality) affect the measured partition coefficients, showing that fine-tuning of these parameters can make the agreement with the experiments almost quantitative. Nevertheless, our results show that charge regulation in multivalent solutes can potentially be exploited in engineering the partitioning of charged molecules in PEC-based systems at various pH values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Staňo
- Faculty
of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Vienna
Doctoral School in Physics, University of
Vienna, Boltzmanngasse
5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jéré
J. van Lente
- Department
of Molecules & Materials, University
of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia Lindhoud
- Department
of Molecules & Materials, University
of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Košovan
- Department
of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, 128 40 Prague 2, Czech Republic
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5
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van Westerveld L, Es Sayed J, de Graaf M, Hofman AH, Kamperman M, Parisi D. Hydrophobically modified complex coacervates for designing aqueous pressure-sensitive adhesives. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:8832-8848. [PMID: 37947361 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01114c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The rheology of complex coacervates can be elegantly tuned via the design and control of specific non-covalent hydrophobic interactions between the complexed polymer chains. The well-controlled balance between elasticity and energy dissipation makes complex coacervates perfect candidates for pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs). In this work, the polyanion poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate) (PSPMA) and the polycation quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine) (QP4VP) were used to prepare complex coacervates in water. Progressive increase of hydrophobicity is introduced to the polyanion via partial deprotection of the protected precursor. Hence, the polymer chains in the complex coacervates can interact via both electrostatic (controlled by the amount of salt) and hydrophobic (controlled by the deprotection degree) interactions. It was observed that: (i) a rheological time-salt-hydrophobicity superposition principle is applicable, and can be used as a predictive tool for rheology, (ii) the slowdown of the stress relaxation dynamics, due to the increase of hydrophobic stickers (lower deprotection degree), can be captured by the sticky-Rouse model, and (iii) the systematic variation of hydrophobic stickers, amount of salt, and molecular weight of the polymers, enables the identification of optimizing parameters to design aqueous PSA systems. The presented results offer new pathways to control the rheology of complex coacervates and their applicability as PSAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa van Westerveld
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Julien Es Sayed
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Marijn de Graaf
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Anton H Hofman
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Marleen Kamperman
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Daniele Parisi
- Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
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6
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Li H, Lalwani SM, Eneh CI, Braide T, Batys P, Sammalkorpi M, Lutkenhaus JL. A Perspective on the Glass Transition and the Dynamics of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers and Complexes. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:14823-14839. [PMID: 37819874 PMCID: PMC10863056 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) or polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), formed by layer-by-layer assembly or the mixing of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PEs) in aqueous solution, respectively, have potential applications in health, energy, and the environment. PEMs and PECs are very tunable because their structure and properties are influenced by factors such as pH, ionic strength, salt type, humidity, and temperature. Therefore, it is increasingly important to understand how these factors affect PECs and PEMs on a molecular level. In this Feature Article, we summarize our contributions to the field in the development of approaches to quantify the swelling, thermal properties, and dynamic mechanical properties of PEMs and PECs. First, the role of water as a plasticizer and in the glass-transition temperature (Tg) in both strong poly(diallyldimethylammonium)/poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PDADMA/PSS) and weak poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAH/PAA) systems is presented. Then, factors influencing the dynamics of PECs and PEMs are discussed. We also reflect on the swelling of PEMs in response to different salts and solvent additives. Last, the nature of water's microenvironment in PEMs/PECs is discussed. A special emphasis is placed on experimental techniques, along with molecular simulations. Taken together, this review presents an outlook and offers recommendations for future research directions, such as studying the additional effects of hydrogen-bonding hydrophobic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Li
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Suvesh Manoj Lalwani
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Chikaodinaka I. Eneh
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Tamunoemi Braide
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Piotr Batys
- Jerzy
Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy
of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8, 30-239 Krakow, Poland
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department
of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto
University, P.O. Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy
of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials
(LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Jodie L. Lutkenhaus
- Artie
McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College
Station, Texas 77840, United States
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7
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Mitra S, Kundagrami A. Polyelectrolyte complexation of two oppositely charged symmetric polymers: A minimal theory. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:014904. [PMID: 36610965 DOI: 10.1063/5.0128904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interplay of Coulomb interaction energy, free ion entropy, and conformational elasticity is a fascinating aspect in polyelectrolytes (PEs). We develop a theory for complexation of two oppositely charged PEs, a process known to be the precursor to the formation of complex coacervates in PE solutions, to explore the underlying thermodynamics of complex formation, at low salts. The theory considers general degrees of solvent polarity and dielectricity within an implicit solvent model, incorporating a varying Coulomb strength. Explicit calculation of the free energy of complexation and its components indicates that the entropy of free counterions and salt ions and the Coulomb enthalpy of bound ion-pairs dictate the equilibrium of PE complexation. This helps decouple the self-consistent dependency of charge and size of the uncomplexed parts of the polyions, derive an analytical expression for charge, and evaluate the free energy components as functions of chain overlap. Complexation is observed to be driven by enthalpy gain at low Coulomb strengths, driven by entropy gain of released counterions but opposed by enthalpy loss due to reduction of ion-pairs at moderate Coulomb strengths, and progressively less favorable due to enthalpy loss at even higher Coulomb strengths. The total free energy of the system is found to decrease linearly with an overlap of chains. Thermodynamic predictions from our model are in good quantitative agreement with simulations in literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumik Mitra
- Department of Physical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Arindam Kundagrami
- Department of Physical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
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8
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An Overview of Coacervates: The Special Disperse State of Amphiphilic and Polymeric Materials in Solution. COLLOIDS AND INTERFACES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/colloids6030045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Individual amphiphiles, polymers, and colloidal dispersions influenced by temperature, pH, and environmental conditions or interactions between their oppositely charged pairs in solvent medium often produce solvent-rich and solvent-poor phases in the system. The solvent-poor denser phase found either on the top or the bottom of the system is called coacervate. Coacervates have immense applications in various technological fields. This review comprises a concise introduction, focusing on the types of coacervates, and the influence of different factors in their formation, structures, and stability. In addition, their physicochemical properties, thermodynamics of formation, and uses and multifarious applications are also concisely presented and discussed.
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9
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Khavani M, Batys P, Lalwani SM, Eneh CI, Leino A, Lutkenhaus JL, Sammalkorpi M. Effect of Ethanol and Urea as Solvent Additives on PSS–PDADMA Polyelectrolyte Complexation. Macromolecules 2022; 55:3140-3150. [PMID: 35492577 PMCID: PMC9052311 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c02533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The effect of urea
and ethanol additives on aqueous solutions of
poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS), poly(diallyldimethylammonium)
(PDADMA), and their complexation interactions are examined here via
molecular dynamics simulations, interconnected laser Doppler velocimetry,
and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. It is found that
urea and ethanol have significant, yet opposite influences on PSS
and PDADMA solvation and interactions. Notably, ethanol is systematically
depleted from solvating the charge groups but condenses at the hydrophobic
backbone of PSS. As a consequence of the poorer solvation environment
for the ionic groups, ethanol significantly increases the extent of
counterion condensation. On the other hand, urea readily solvates
both polyelectrolytes and replaces water in solvation. For PSS, urea
causes disruption of the hydrogen bonding of the PSS headgroup with
water. In PSS–PDADMA complexation, these differences influence
changes in the binding configurations relative to the case of pure
water. Specifically, added ethanol leads to loosening of the complex
caused by the enhancement of counterion condensation; added urea pushes
polyelectrolyte chains further apart because of the formation of a
persistent solvation shell. In total, we find that the effects of
urea and ethanol rise from changes in the microscopic-level solvation
environment and conformation resulting from solvating water being
replaced by the additive. The differences cannot be explained purely
via considering relative permittivity and continuum level electrostatic
screening. Taken together, the findings could bear significance in
tuning polyelectrolyte materials’ mechanical and swelling characteristics
via solution additives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Khavani
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Piotr Batys
- Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8, PL-30239 Krakow, Poland
| | | | | | - Anna Leino
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | | | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
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10
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Chen Y, Shull KR. Processing Polyelectrolyte Complexes with Deep Eutectic Solvents. ACS Macro Lett 2021; 10:1243-1247. [PMID: 35549044 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) formed from mixtures of polycations and polyanions are useful in a variety of applications and can be processed by the addition of salt. Salt mediates the ionic interactions within the polyelectrolyte complexes, with appropriately chosen salts enabling complete dissolution of solid PEC in aqueous media. Substantial complications arise from the crystallization of the salt during subsequent processing steps. Here we show that appropriately chosen noncrystallizing deep eutectic solvents can be used to process solid PECs. Mixtures of ethylene glycol and guanidine thiocyanate are used for a particularly effective deep eutectic solvent. The phase behaviors of this deep eutectic system and of its mixtures with a model polyelectrolyte complex were quantified.
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Affiliation(s)
- YuLing Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Kenneth R Shull
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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11
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Lee M, Perry SL, Hayward RC. Complex Coacervation of Polymerized Ionic Liquids in Non-aqueous Solvents. ACS POLYMERS AU 2021; 1:100-106. [PMID: 36855425 PMCID: PMC9954202 DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.1c00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Oppositely charged polymerized ionic liquids (PILs) were used to form complex coacervates in two different organic solvents, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) and hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP), and the corresponding phase diagrams were constructed using UV-vis, NMR, and turbidity experiments. While previous studies on complex coacervates have focused almost exclusively on aqueous environments, the use of PILs in the current work enabled studies in solvents with substantially lower dielectric constants (27.0 for TFE, 16.7 for HFIP). The critical salt concentration required to induce complete miscibility was roughly 2-fold larger in HFIP compared with TFE, and two different PIL complexes, solidlike precipitates and liquidlike coacervates, were found in both systems. This study provides insight into the effects of low-dielectric-constant solvents on complex coacervation, which has not been widely studied because of the limited solubility of conventional polyelectrolytes in these media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjung Lee
- Department
of Polymer Science and Engineering, University
of Massachusetts, Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9263, United States
| | - Sarah L. Perry
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts,
Amherst, 686 North Pleasant
Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9303, United States
| | - Ryan C. Hayward
- Department
of Polymer Science and Engineering, University
of Massachusetts, Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9263, United States,Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 596
UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States,
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12
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Neitzel A, Fang YN, Yu B, Rumyantsev AM, de Pablo JJ, Tirrell MV. Polyelectrolyte Complex Coacervation across a Broad Range of Charge Densities. Macromolecules 2021; 54:6878-6890. [PMID: 34334816 PMCID: PMC8320234 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte complex coacervates of homologous (co)polyelectrolytes with a near-ideally random distribution of a charged and neutral ethylene oxide comonomer were synthesized. The unique platform provided by these building blocks enabled an investigation of the phase behavior across charge fractions 0.10 ≤ f ≤ 1.0. Experimental phase diagrams for f = 0.30-1.0 were obtained from thermogravimetric analysis of complex and supernatant phases and contrasted with molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical scaling laws. At intermediate to high f, a dependence of polymer weight fraction in the salt-free coacervate phase (w P,c) of w P,c ∼ f 0.37±0.01 was extracted; this trend was in good agreement with accompanying simulation predictions. Below f = 0.50, w P,c was found to decrease more dramatically, qualitatively in line with theory and simulations predicting an exponent of 2/3 at f ≤ 0.25. Preferential salt partitioning to either coacervate or supernatant was found to be dictated by the chemistry of the constituent (co)polyelectrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelika
E. Neitzel
- Pritzker
School of Molecular Engineering, University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Argonne
National Laboratory, Materials Science Division, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Yan N. Fang
- Pritzker
School of Molecular Engineering, University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Boyuan Yu
- Pritzker
School of Molecular Engineering, University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Artem M. Rumyantsev
- Pritzker
School of Molecular Engineering, University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Juan J. de Pablo
- Pritzker
School of Molecular Engineering, University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Argonne
National Laboratory, Materials Science Division, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Matthew V. Tirrell
- Pritzker
School of Molecular Engineering, University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Argonne
National Laboratory, Materials Science Division, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
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13
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Ion-Specific and Solvent Effects on PDADMA–PSS Complexation and Multilayer Formation. COLLOIDS AND INTERFACES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/colloids5030038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Among various parameters that influence the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes and multilayers, special emphasis should be placed on ion-specific and solvent effects. In our study, we systematically examined the above-mentioned effects on poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMACl)-sodium poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (NaPSS) complexation in solution and at the surface by means of dynamic light scattering, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy measurements. As solvents, we used water and water/ethanol mixture. The obtained results confirm the importance of ion-specific and solvent effects on complexes prepared in solution, as well as on multilayers built up on a silica surface. The experiments in mixed solvent solution showed that at a higher ethanol mole fraction, the decrease in monomer titrant to titrand ratio, at which the increase in the size of complexes is observed, takes place. The difference between chloride and bromide ions was more pronounced at a higher mole fraction of ethanol and in the case of positive complex formation, suggesting that the larger amount of bromide ions could be condensed to the polycation chain. These findings are in accordance with the results we obtained for polyelectrolyte multilayers and could be helpful for designing polyelectrolyte multilayers with tuned properties needed for various applications, primarily in the field of biomedicine.
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14
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Li J, van Ewijk G, van Dijken DJ, van der Gucht J, de Vos WM. Single-Step Application of Polyelectrolyte Complex Films as Oxygen Barrier Coatings. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:21844-21853. [PMID: 33913689 PMCID: PMC8153532 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c05031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) films such as polyelectrolyte multilayers have demonstrated excellent oxygen barrier properties, but unfortunately, the established layer-by-layer approaches are laborious and difficult to scale up. Here, we demonstrate a novel single-step approach to produce a PEC film, based on the use of a volatile base. Ammonia was used to adjust the pH of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) so that direct complexation was avoided when it was mixed with polyethylenimine (PEI). Different charge ratios of homogeneous PEI/PAA solutions were successfully prepared and phase diagrams varying the concentration of ammonia or polyelectrolyte were made to study the phase behavior of PEI, PAA, and ammonia in water. Transparent ∼1 μm thick films were successfully deposited on biaxially orientated polypropylene (BOPP) sheets using a Meyer rod. After casting the films, the decrease in pH, caused by the evaporation of ammonia, triggered the complexation during drying. The oxygen permeation properties of films with different ratios and single polyelectrolytes were tested. All films displayed excellent oxygen barrier properties, with an oxygen permeation below 4 cm3·m-2·day-1·atm-1 (<0.002 barrer) at the optimum ratio of 2:1 PEI/PAA. This ammonia evaporation-induced complexation approach creates a new pathway to prepare PEC films in one simple step while allowing the possibility of recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Li
- Membrane
Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty
of Science and Technology, University of
Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard van Ewijk
- Akzo
Nobel Decorative Coatings B.V., Rijksstraatweg 31, 2171 AJ Sassenheim, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jasper van der Gucht
- Physical
Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University
and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wiebe M. de Vos
- Membrane
Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty
of Science and Technology, University of
Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
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15
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Batys P, Fedorov D, Mohammadi P, Lemetti L, Linder MB, Sammalkorpi M. Self-Assembly of Silk-like Protein into Nanoscale Bicontinuous Networks under Phase-Separation Conditions. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:690-700. [PMID: 33406825 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation of biomacromolecules is crucial in various inter- and extracellular biological functions. This includes formation of condensates to control, e.g., biochemical reactions and structural assembly. The same phenomenon is also found to be critically important in protein-based high-performance biological materials. Here, we use a well-characterized model triblock protein system to demonstrate the molecular level formation mechanism and structure of its condensate. Large-scale molecular modeling supported by analytical ultracentrifuge characterization combined with our earlier high magnification precision cryo-SEM microscopy imaging leads to deducing that the condensate has a bicontinuous network structure. The bicontinuous network rises from the proteins having a combination of sites with stronger mutual attraction and multiple weakly attractive regions connected by flexible, multiconfigurational linker regions. These attractive sites and regions behave as stickers of varying adhesion strength. For the examined model triblock protein construct, the β-sheet-rich end units are the stronger stickers, while additional weaker stickers, contributing to the condensation affinity, rise from spring-like connections in the flexible middle region of the protein. The combination of stronger and weaker sticker-like connections and the flexible regions between the stickers result in a versatile, liquid-like, self-healing structure. This structure also explains the high flexibility, easy deformability, and diffusion of the proteins, decreasing only 10-100 times in the bicontinuous network formed in the condensate phase in comparison to dilute protein solution. The here demonstrated structure and condensation mechanism of a model triblock protein construct via a combination of the stronger binding regions and the weaker, flexible sacrificial-bond-like network as well as its generalizability via polymer sticker models provide means to not only understand intracellular organization, regulation, and cellular function but also to identify direct control factors for and to enable engineering improved protein and polymer constructs to enhance control of advanced fiber materials, smart liquid biointerfaces, or self-healing matrices for pharmaceutics or bioengineering materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Batys
- Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8, PL-30239 Krakow, Poland.,Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Dmitrii Fedorov
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Pezhman Mohammadi
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., FI-02044 Espoo, Finland
| | - Laura Lemetti
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Markus B Linder
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.,Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
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16
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Manoj Lalwani S, Eneh CI, Lutkenhaus JL. Emerging trends in the dynamics of polyelectrolyte complexes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:24157-24177. [PMID: 33094301 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp03696j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) are highly tunable materials that result from the phase separation that occurs upon mixing oppositely charged polymers. Over the years, they have gained interest due to their broad range of applications such as drug delivery systems, protective coatings, food packaging, and surface adhesives. In this review, we summarize the structure, phase transitions, chain dynamics, and rheological and thermal properties of PECs. Although most literature focuses upon the thermodynamics and application of PECs, this review highlights the fundamental role of salt and water on mechanical and thermal properties impacting the PEC's dynamics. A special focus is placed upon experimental results and techniques. Specifically, the review examines phase behaviour and salt partitioning in PECs, as well as different techniques used to measure diffusion coefficients, relaxation times, various superpositioning principles, glass transitions, and water microenvironments in PECs. This review concludes with future areas of opportunity in fundamental studies and best practices in reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvesh Manoj Lalwani
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA.
| | - Chikaodinaka I Eneh
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA.
| | - Jodie L Lutkenhaus
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA. and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
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17
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Meng S, Ting JM, Wu H, Tirrell MV. Solid-to-Liquid Phase Transition in Polyelectrolyte Complexes. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Meng
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Jeffrey M. Ting
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Center for Molecular Engineering and Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Hao Wu
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Matthew V. Tirrell
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Center for Molecular Engineering and Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
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