Equilibrium and kinetically trapped aggregates in polyelectrolyte–oppositely charged surfactant mixtures

Pressure Changes Across a Membrane Formed by Coacervation of Oppositely Charged Polymer-Surfactant Systems

We investigate the mass transfer and membrane growth processes during capsule formation by the interaction of the biopolymer xanthan gum with CnTAB surfactants. When a drop of xanthan gum polymer solution is added to the surfactant solution, a membrane is formed by coacervation. It encapsulates the polymer drop in the surfactant solution. The underlying mechanisms and dynamic processes during capsule formation are not yet understood in detail. Therefore, we characterized the polymer-surfactant complex formation during coacervation by measuring the surface tension and surface elasticity at the solution-air interface for different surfactant chain lengths and concentrations. The adsorption behavior of the mixed polymer-surfactant system at the solution-air interface supports the understanding of observed trends during the capsule formation. We further measured the change in capsule pressure over time and simultaneously imaged the membrane growth via confocal microscopy. The cross-linking and shrinkage during the membrane formation by coacervation leads to an increasing tensile stress in the elastic membrane, resulting in a rapid pressure rise. Afterward, the pressure gradually decreases and the capsule shrinks as water diffuses out. This is not only due to the initial capsule overpressure but also due to osmosis caused by the higher ionic strength of the surfactant solution outside the capsule compared to the polymer solution inside the capsule. The influence of polymer concentration and surfactant type and concentration on the pressure changes and the membrane structure are studied in this work, providing detailed insights into the dynamic membrane formation process by coacervation. This knowledge can be used to produce capsules with tailored membrane properties and to develop a suitable encapsulation protocol in technological applications. The obtained insights into the mass transfer of water across the capsule membrane are important for future usage in separation techniques and the food industry and allow us to better predict the capsule time stability.

Spontaneous Liquid Droplet-to-Gel Transition of Citrulline Polypeptide Complexed with Nucleic Acids

Inside cells, proteins complex with nucleic acids to form liquid droplets resulting from liquid-liquid phase separation. The presence of mutated proteins can change the state of these liquid droplets to solids or gels, triggering neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanism of the liquid to solid or gel transition is still unclear. Solutions of poly(l-ornithine-co-l-citrulline) (PLOC) copolymers, which exhibit upper critical solution temperature-type behavior, change state upon cooling. In this study, we evaluated the effect of nucleic acids complexed with PLOC on phase changes. In the presence of nucleic acids, such as polyC and polyU, PLOC formed liquid droplets at low temperatures. The droplets dissolved at temperatures above the phase separation temperature. The phase separation temperature depended on the chemical structure of the nucleobase, implying that electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions between the nucleic acid and PLOC influenced phase separation. Furthermore, the liquid droplets spontaneously changed to gel-like precipitates due to spontaneous release of nucleic acids from the complex. The rate of the liquid droplet-to-gel transition depended on the magnitude of electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions between PLOC and nucleic acid. PLOC complexed with mRNA also underwent a liquid droplet-to-gel transition upon the release of mRNA. This work provides insights into the mechanism of pathogenic transitions of the cellular droplets.

Effects of Charge Density on Spread Hyperbranched Polyelectrolyte/Surfactant Films at the Air/Water Interface

The interfacial structure and morphology of films spread from hyperbranched polyethylene imine/sodium dodecyl sulfate (PEI/SDS) aggregates at the air/water interface have been resolved for the first time with respect to polyelectrolyte charged density. A recently developed method to form efficient films from the dissociation of aggregates using a minimal quantity of materials is exploited as a step forward in enhancing understanding of the film properties with a view to their future use in technological applications. Interfacial techniques that resolve different time and length scales, namely, ellipsometry, Brewster angle microscopy, and neutron reflectometry, are used. Extended structures of both components are formed under a monolayer of the surfactant with bound polyelectrolytes upon film compression on subphases adjusted to pH 4 or 10, corresponding to high and low charge density of the polyelectrolyte, respectively. A rigid film is related to compact conformation of the PEI in the interfacial structure at pH 4, while it is observed that aggregates remain embedded in mobile films at pH 10. The ability to compact surfactants in the monolayer to the same extent as its maximum coverage in the absence of polyelectrolyte is distinct from the behavior observed for spread films involving linear polyelectrolytes, and intriguingly evidence points to the formation of extended structures over the full range of surface pressures. We conclude that the molecular architecture and charge density can be important parameters in controlling the structures and properties of spread polyelectrolyte/surfactant films, which holds relevance to a range of applications, such as those where PEI is used, including CO2 capture, electronic devices, and gene transfection.

A Molecular Thermodynamic Model of Coacervation in Solutions of Polycations and Oppositely Charged Micelles

To guide the rational design of personal care formulations, we formulate a molecular thermodynamic model that predicts coacervation from cationic polymers and mixed micelles containing neutral and anionic surfactants and added salt. These coacervates, which form as a result of dilution of conditioning shampoos during use, deposit conditioning agents and other actives to the scalp or skin and also provide lubrication benefits. Our model accounts for mixing entropy, hydrophobic interactions of polycation with water, free energies of bindings of oppositely charged groups to micelles and polycations, and electrostatic interactions that capture connectivity of charged groups on the polycation chain and the micelle. The model outputs are the compositions of surfactants, polycation, salt, and water in the coacervate and in its coexisting dilute phase, along with the binding fractions and coacervate volume fraction. We study the effects of overall composition (of surfactant, polycation, and added salt), charge fractions on micelles and polycations, and binding free energies on the phase diagram of coacervates. Then, we perform coacervation experiments for three systems: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-JR30M, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate (Taurate)-JR30M, and sodium lauryl alaninate (Alaninate)-JR30M, where JR30M is a cationic derivative of hydroxyethylcellulose (cat-HEC), and rationalize their coacervation data using our model. For comparison with experiment, we also develop a parametrization scheme to obtain the requisite binding energies and Flory-Huggins χ parameter. We find that our model predictions agree reasonably well with the experimental data, and that the sulfate-free surfactants of Taurate and Alaninate display much larger 2-phase regions compared to SDS with JR30M.

Dilution-Induced Deposition of Concentrated Binary Mixtures of Cationic Polysaccharides and Surfactants

This work investigates the effect of dilution on the phase separation process of binary charged polysaccharide-surfactant mixtures formed by two cationic polysaccharides and up to four surfactants of different nature (anionic, zwitterionic, and neutral), as well as the potential impact of dilution-induced phase separation on the formation of conditioning deposits on charged surfaces, mimicking the negative charge and wettability of damaged hair fibers. The results obtained showed that the dilution behavior of model washing formulations (concentrated polysaccharide-surfactant mixtures) cannot be described in terms of a classical complex precipitation framework, as phase separation phenomena occur even when the aggregates are far from the equilibrium phase separation composition. Therefore, dilution-enhanced deposition cannot be predicted in terms of the worsening of colloidal stability due to the charge neutralization phenomena, as common phase separation and, hence, enhanced deposition occurs even for highly charged complexes.

Polyelectrolyte-multivalent molecule complexes: physicochemical properties and applications

The complexation of polyelectrolytes with other oppositely charged structures gives rise to a great variety of functional materials with potential applications in a wide spectrum of technological fields. Depending on the assembly conditions, polyelectrolyte complexes can acquire different macroscopic configurations such as dense precipitates, nanosized colloids and liquid coacervates. In the past 50 years, much progress has been achieved to understand the principles behind the phase separation induced by the interaction of two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions, especially for symmetric systems (systems in which both polyions have similar molecular weight and concentration). However, in recent years, the complexation of polyelectrolytes with alternative building blocks such as small charged molecules (multivalent inorganic species, oligopeptides, and oligoamines, among others) has gained attention in different areas. In this review, we discuss the physicochemical characteristics of the complexes formed by polyelectrolytes and multivalent small molecules, putting a special emphasis on their similarities with the well-known polycation-polyanion complexes. In addition, we analyze the potential of these complexes to act as versatile functional platforms in various technological fields, such as biomedicine and advanced materials engineering.

Liquid-liquid and liquid-solid separation in self-assembled chitosan-alginate and chitosan-pectin complexes

The complexation between two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PE) can lead liquid-liquid (complex coacervates, CC) or liquid-solid (solid precipitates, SP) phase separations. Herein, the effect of pH (2-11) and ionic strength (I, 0.05-1.0 M KCl) on the associative interactions between chitosan (QL)-alginate (SA) and QL-Pectin (Pec), polysaccharides widely used in biotechnology field, is described. pH and I, exhibited significant effect on the structure and phase transitions by modifying the ionization degree (α), pk_a, and associative interactions between PE. Onset of binding was established at pH_c 9, while continued acidification (pH_τ 5.8) led to simultaneous CC and SP exhibiting a maximum turbidity in both systems. At pH_δ 4.0, QL-Pec showed preferably CC structures whereas QL-SA maintained the CC and SP structures. At pH_ω 2, the associative interactions were suppressed due to the low ionization of Pec and SA. I (1.0 M) significantly diminished the interactions in QL-Pec due to charge screening. Molecular weight, second virial coefficient, hydrodynamic size, ionizable groups, and persistence length of polyion, influenced on the phase behavior of QL-Pec and QL-SA systems. Therefore, CC and SP are found simultaneously in both systems, their transitions can be modulated by intrinsic and environmental conditions, expanding the functional properties of complexed polysaccharides.

Polyelectrolyte/Surfactant Mixtures: A Pathway to Smart Foams

This review deals with liquid foams stabilized by polyelectrolyte/surfactant (PS) complexes in aqueous solution. It briefly reviews all the important aspects of foam physics at several scales, from interfaces to macroscopic foams, needed to understand the basics of these complex systems, focusing on those particular aspects of foams stabilized by PS mixtures. The final section includes a few examples of smart foams based on PS complexes that have been reported recently in the literature. These PS complexes open an opportunity to develop new intelligent dispersed materials with potential in many fields, such as oil industry, environmental remediation, and pharmaceutical industry, among others. However, there is much work to be done to understand the mechanism involved in the stabilization of foams with PS complexes. Understanding those underlying mechanisms is vital to successfully formulate smart systems. This review is written in the hope of stimulating further work in the physics of PS foams and, particularly, in the search for responsive foams based on polymer-surfactant mixtures.

Using Polymer-Surfactant Charge Ratio to Control Synergistic Flocculation of Anionic Particulate Dispersions

This study investigates the flocculation induced destabilization of particulate dispersions by oppositely charged polymer−surfactant complexes, with a particular focus on controlling interactions by modulating the charge ratio Z, (where Z = [+polymer]/[−surfactant]) via [−surfactant] at fixed Cpolymer. Cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose (cat-HEC) polymer-sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) complexes were prepared with either excess polymer (Z > 1) or surfactant (Z < 1) charges. Anionic particulate dispersions (Ludox and polystyrene-butadiene Latex) were then exposed to the complexes, and solvent relaxation NMR was used to characterize the particle surfaces before and after exposure. In both particulate dispersions, flocculation induced destabilization was enhanced after exposure to cat-HEC-SDS complexes with Z > 1, leaving any excess particle surfaces uncoated after gentle centrifugation. However, complexes with Z < 1 showed no adsorption and destabilization in the Ludox dispersions and only slight destabilization in the Latex dispersions due to possible hydrophobic interactions. Substituting SDS for non-ionic surfactant (C12E6) showed no additional destabilization of the dispersions, but post-centrifugation relaxation rates indicated preferential adsorption of C12E6 onto the particle surfaces. Since the dominant forces are electrostatic, this study highlights the possibility of controlling the interactions between oppositely charged polymer−surfactant complexes and particle surfaces by modulating Z through [−surfactant].

Peculiarities of the interaction of sodium dodecyl sulfate with chitosan in acidic and alkaline media

In this work, the interaction between the negatively charged surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and partially N-reacetylated chitosan (RA-CHI), which is soluble at pH range up to pH 12, is studied in a wide pH range including alkaline media by light scattering (LS) and isothermic titration calorimetry (ITC). It is shown that in the weakly alkaline medium (pH 7.4), RA-CHI/SDS interaction is exothermic and cooperative. This interaction is found to be coupled with proton transfer from the buffer substance to chitosan as it is revealed by the dependence of the measured heat release on the ionization enthalpy of the buffer. At higher pH values (pH > 8), another mechanism of interaction is observed that include SDS micellization induced by hydrophobic interactions with polymer segments, so that no phase separation occurred in these mixtures. The results obtained can contribute to expand the knowledge about application of chitosan for preparation of pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions containing anionic surfactants.

Insights into Extended Structures and Their Driving Force: Influence of Salt on Polyelectrolyte/Surfactant Mixtures at the Air/Water Interface

This paper addresses the effect of polyelectrolyte stiffness on the surface structure of polyelectrolyte (P)/surfactant (S) mixtures. Therefore, two different anionic Ps with different intrinsic persistence length lP are studied while varying the salt concentration (0-10-2 M). Either monosulfonated polyphenylene sulfone (sPSO2-220, lP ∼20 nm) or sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS, lP ∼1 nm) is mixed with the cationic surfactant tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C14TAB) well below its critical micelle concentration and studied with tensiometry and neutron reflectivity experiments. We kept the S concentration (10-4 M) constant, while we varied the P concentration (10-5-10-3 M of the monomer, denoted as monoM). P and S adsorb at the air/water interface for all studied mixtures. Around the bulk stoichiometric mixing point (BSMP), PSS/C14TAB mixtures lose their surface activity, whereas sPSO2-220/C14TAB mixtures form extended structures perpendicular to the surface (meaning a layer of S with attached P and additional layers of P and S underneath instead of only a monolayer of S with P). Considering the different P monomer structures as well as the impact of salt, we identified the driving force for the formation of these extended structures: compensation of all interfacial charges (P/S ratio ∼1) to maximize the gain of entropy. By increasing the flexibility of P, we can tune the interfacial structures from extended structures to monolayers. These findings may help improve applications based on the adsorption of P/S mixtures in the fields of cosmetic or oil recovery.

Study of the Dilution-Induced Deposition of Concentrated Mixtures of Polyelectrolytes and Surfactants

Mixtures of polyelectrolytes and surfactants are commonly used in many technological applications where the challenge is to provide well-defined modifications of the surface properties, as is the case of washing formulations in cosmetics. However, if contemporary experimental and theoretical methods can provide insights on their behavior in concentrated formulations, less is known on their behavior under practical use conditions, e.g., under dilution and vectorization of deposits. This makes it difficult to make predictions for specific performance, as, for example, good hair manageability after a shampoo or a comfortable sensorial appreciation after a skin cleanser. This is especially important when considering the formulation of new, more eco-friendly formulations. In this work, a detailed study of the phase separation process induced by dilution is described, as well as the impact on the deposition of conditioning material on negatively charged surfaces. In order to gain a more detailed physical insight, several polyelectrolyte–surfactant pairs, formed by two different polymers and five surfactants that, although non-natural or eco-friendly, can be considered as models of classical formulations, have been studied. The results evidenced that upon dilution the behavior, and hence its deposition onto the surface, cannot be predicted in terms of the behavior of simpler pseudo-binary (mixtures of a polymer and a surfactant) or pseudo-ternary mixtures (two polymers and a surfactant). In many cases, phase separation was observed for concentrations similar to those corresponding to the components in some technological formulations, whereas the latter appeared as monophasic systems. Therefore, it may be assumed that the behavior in multicomponent formulations is the result of a complex interplay of synergistic interactions between the different components that will require revisiting when new, more eco-sustainable ingredients are considered.

Dependence of Electrochemical Properties of MK-40 Heterogeneous Membrane on Number of Adsorbed Layers of Polymers

The creation of monovalent selective ion exchange membranes benefits the desalination of surface waters by removing interfering monovalent ions while preserving polyvalent ionic nutrients. Studies of a promising method of layer-by-layer adsorption of polymers for the creation of monovalent selective coatings note a significant effect of the number of formed layers and of the nature of the external layer on the properties of the resulting membranes. This article reports the changes in properties of layer-by-layer coated heterogeneous membranes occurring at increasing numbers of layers that are attributed to the supposed intermixing of polymers between the layers, namely dependence of limiting current densities determined from i-V curve, enhanced electroconvection that was attributed to the appearing electrical heterogeneity of the surface, and the decreasing monovalent selectivity in electrodialysis of mixed NaCl + CaCl2 solution (from 1.33 to about 1) between the samples with five and six to eight layers of polymers.

A detailed assessment on the interaction of sodium alginate with a surface-active ionic liquid and a conventional surfactant: a multitechnique approach

Investigation has been made on the interaction of a biodegradable anionic polyelectrolyte, sodium alginate with two oppositely charged cationic surfactants, 1-hexadecyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride and 1-hexadecyl triphenylphosphonium bromide, former is a...

Charge Modification as a Mechanism for Tunable Properties in Polymer-Surfactant Complexes

Oppositely charged polymer-surfactant complexes are frequently explored as a function of phase space defined by the charge ratio Z, (where Z = [+polymer]/[-surfactant]), commonly accessed through the surfactant concentration. Tuning the phase behaviour and related properties of these complexes is an important tool for optimising commercial formulations; hence, understanding the relationship between Z and bulk properties is pertinent. Here, within a homologous series of cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose (cat-HEC) polymers with minor perturbations in the degree of side chain charge modification, phase space is instead explored through [+polymer] at fixed Cpolymer. The nanostructures were characterised by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) in D2O solutions and in combination with the oppositely charged surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (h- or d-SDS). Scattering consistent with thin rods with an average radius of ∼7.7 Å and length of ∼85 Å was observed for all cat-HEC polymers and no significant interactions were shown between the neutral HEC polymer and SDS (CSDS < CMC). For the charge-modified polymers, interactions with SDS were evident and the radius of the formed complexes grew up to ∼15 Å with increasing Z. This study demonstrates a novel approach in which the Z phase space of oppositely charged polymer-surfactant complexes can be controlled at fixed concentrations.

A pH-Responsive Foam Formulated with PAA/Gemini 12-2-12 Complexes

In the search for responsive complexes with potential applications in the formulation of smart dispersed systems such as foams, we hypothesized that a pH-responsive system could be formulated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) mixed with a cationic surfactant, Gemini 12-2-12 (G12). We studied PAA-G12 complexes at liquid–air interfaces by equilibrium and dynamic surface tension, surface rheology, and X-ray reflectometry (XRR). We found that complexes adsorb at the interfaces synergistically, lowering the equilibrium surface tension at surfactant concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the surfactant. We studied the stability of foams formulated with the complexes as a function of pH. The foams respond reversibly to pH changes: at pH 3.5, they are very stable; at pH > 6, the complexes do not form foams at all. The data presented here demonstrate that foam formation and its pH responsiveness are due to interfacial dynamics.

In situ determination of the structure and composition of Langmuir monolayers at the air/water interface by neutron and X-ray reflectivity and ellipsometry

This review focuses on the description of the structure and composition of a variety of Langmuir monolayers (LMs) deposited at the air/water interface by using ellipsometry, Brewster Angle microscopy and scattering techniques, mainly neutron and X-ray reflectometry. Since the first experiment done by Angels Pockels with a homemade trough in her home kitchen until today, LMs of different materials have been extensively studied providing not only relevant model systems in biology, physics and chemistry but also precursors of novel materials via their deposition on solid substrates. There is a vast amount of surface-active materials that can form LMs and, therefore, far from a revision of the state-of-the-art, we will emphasize here: (i) some fundamental aspects to understand the physics behind the molecular deposition at the air/water interface; (ii) the advantages in using in situ techniques, such as reflectometry or ellipsometry, to resolve the interfacial architecture and conformation of molecular films; and, finally, (iii) a summary of several systems that have certain interest from the experimental or conceptual point of view. Concretely, we will report here advances in polymers confined to interfaces and surfactants, from fatty acids and phospholipids monolayers to more unconventional ones such as graphene oxide.

Particle-laden fluid/fluid interfaces: physico-chemical foundations

Particle-laden fluid/fluid interfaces are ubiquitous in academia and industry, which has fostered extensive research efforts trying to disentangle the physico-chemical bases underlying the trapping of particles to fluid/fluid interfaces as well as the properties of the obtained layers. The understanding of such aspects is essential for exploiting the ability of particles on the stabilization of fluid/fluid interface for the fabrication of novel interface-dominated devices, ranging from traditional Pickering emulsions to more advanced reconfigurable devices. This review tries to provide a general perspective of the physico-chemical aspects associated with the stabilization of interfaces by colloidal particles, mainly chemical isotropic spherical colloids. Furthermore, some aspects related to the exploitation of particle-laden fluid/fluid interfaces on the stabilization of emulsions and foams will be also highlighted. It is expected that this review can be used for researchers and technologist as an initial approach to the study of particle-laden fluid layers.

Fabrication of Robust Capsules by Sequential Assembly of Polyelectrolytes onto Charged Liposomes

This work presents a simple methodology for coating small unilamellar liposomes bearing different degrees of positive charge with polyelectrolyte multilayers using the sequential layer-by-layer deposition method. The liposomes were made of mixtures of 1,2-dioleyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocoline and dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DODAB) and coated by alternated layers of the sodium salt of poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and poly(allylamine) (PAH) as polyanions and polycations, respectively. The results show that the zeta potential of the liposomes was not very sensitive to the mole fraction of DODAB in the membrane, X_D, in the range 0.3 ≤ X_D ≤ 0.8. We were able to coat the liposomes with up to four polymer bilayers. The growth of the capsule size was followed by dynamic light scattering, and in some cases, by cryo-transmission electron microscopy, with good agreement between both techniques. The thickness of the layers, measured from the hydrodynamic radius of the coated liposome, depends on the polyelectrolyte used, so that the PSS layers adopt a much more packaged conformation than the PAH layers. An interesting finding is that the PSS amount needed to reach the isoelectric point of the capsules increases linearly with the charge density of the bare liposomes, whereas the amount of PAH does not depend on it. As expected, the preparation of the multilayers has to be done in such a way that when the system is close to the isoelectric point, the capsules do not aggregate. For this, we dropped the polyelectrolyte solution quickly, stirred it fast, and used dilute liposome suspensions. The method is very flexible and not limited to liposomes or polyelectrolyte multilayers; also, coatings containing charged nanoparticles can be easily made. Once the liposomes have been coated, lipids can be easily eliminated, giving rise to polyelectrolyte nanocapsules (polyelectrosomes) with potential applications as drug delivery platforms.

Polymer-Colloid Complexes Based on Cationic Imidazolium Amphiphile, Polyacrylic Acid and DNA Decamer

The solution behavior and physicochemical characteristics of polymer-colloid complexes based on cationic imidazolium amphiphile with a dodecyl tail (IA-12) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) or DNA decamer (oligonucleotide) were evaluated using tensiometry, conductometry, dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering and fluorescent spectroscopy and microscopy. It has been established that PAA addition to the surfactant system resulted in a ca. 200-fold decrease in the aggregation threshold of IA-12, with the hydrodynamic diameter of complexes ranging within 100-150 nm. Electrostatic forces are assumed to be the main driving force in the formation of IA-12/PAA complexes. Factors influencing the efficacy of the complexation of IA-12 with oligonucleotide were determined. The nonconventional mode of binding with the involvement of hydrophobic interactions and the intercalation mechanism is probably responsible for the IA-12/oligonucleotide complexation, and a minor contribution of electrostatic forces occurred. The latter was supported by zeta potential measurements and the gel electrophoresis technique, which demonstrated the low degree of charge neutralization of the complexes. Importantly, cellular uptake of the IA-12/oligonucleotide complex was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry data on the example of M-HeLa cells. While single IA-12 samples exhibit roughly similar cytotoxicity, IA-12-oligonucleotide complexes show a selective effect toward M-HeLa cells (IC50 1.1 µM) compared to Chang liver cells (IC50 23.1 µM).

Polyelectrolyte Multilayers on Soft Colloidal Nanosurfaces: A New Life for the Layer-By-Layer Method

The Layer-by-Layer (LbL) method is a well-established method for the assembly of nanomaterials with controlled structure and functionality through the alternate deposition onto a template of two mutual interacting molecules, e.g., polyelectrolytes bearing opposite charge. The current development of this methodology has allowed the fabrication of a broad range of systems by assembling different types of molecules onto substrates with different chemical nature, size, or shape, resulting in numerous applications for LbL systems. In particular, the use of soft colloidal nanosurfaces, including nanogels, vesicles, liposomes, micelles, and emulsion droplets as a template for the assembly of LbL materials has undergone a significant growth in recent years due to their potential impact on the design of platforms for the encapsulation and controlled release of active molecules. This review proposes an analysis of some of the current trends on the fabrication of LbL materials using soft colloidal nanosurfaces, including liposomes, emulsion droplets, or even cells, as templates. Furthermore, some fundamental aspects related to deposition methodologies commonly used for fabricating LbL materials on colloidal templates together with the most fundamental physicochemical aspects involved in the assembly of LbL materials will also be discussed.

Layer-by-Layer Coating of MK-40 Heterogeneous Membrane with Polyelectrolytes Creates Samples with Low Electrical Resistance and Weak Generation of H+ and OH- Ions

Ion exchange membranes covered with layers of polyelectrolytes of alternating charges are characterized by very high monovalent selectivity. This allows the use of such membranes for electrodialytic fractionation of multicomponent solutions. However, the very existence of the boundary at which differently charged layers come in contact can hinder a membrane's effectiveness by limiting its ion permeability, raising levels of H+ and OH- ions (thus shifting the pH) and increasing the electrical resistance of the membrane, which leads to increased energy consumption. To test how these properties would be changed, we created cheap layer-by-layer-modified membranes based on the heterogeneous MK-40 membrane, on which we adsorbed layers of polyallylamine and sulfonated polystyrene. We created samples with 3, 4, and 5 layers of polyelectrolytes and characterized them. We showed that the application of layers did not decrease the efficiency of the membrane, since the electrical resistance of the modified samples, which increased after application of the first oppositely charged layer, declined with the application of the following layers and became comparable to that of the substrate, while their limiting current density was higher and the shift of pH of treated solution was low in magnitude and comparable with that of the substrate membrane.

Evaporation of Sessile Droplets of Polyelectrolyte/Surfactant Mixtures on Silicon Wafers

The wetting and evaporation behavior of droplets of aqueous solutions of mixtures of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) solution, PDADMAC, with two different anionic surfactants, sodium laureth sulfate, SLES, and sodium N-lauroyl N-methyl taurate, SLMT, were studied in terms of the changes of the contact angle θ and contact length L of sessile droplets of the mixtures on silicon wafers at a temperature of 25 °C and different relative humidities in the range of 30–90%. The advancing contact angle θa was found to depend on the surfactant concentration, independent of the relative humidity, with the mixtures containing SLES presenting improved wetting behaviors. Furthermore, a constant droplet contact angle was not observed during evaporation due to pinning of the droplet at the coffee-ring that was formed. The kinetics for the first evaporation stage of the mixture were independent of the relative humidity, with the evaporation behavior being well described in terms of the universal law for evaporation.

Adsorption of Mixtures of a Pegylated Lipid with Anionic and Zwitterionic Surfactants at Solid/Liquid

This work explores the association of a pegylated lipid (DSPE-PEG) with different anionic and zwitterionic surfactants (pseudo-binary and pseudo-ternary polymer+ surfactant mixtures), and the adsorption of the polymer + surfactant aggregates onto negatively charged surfaces, with a surface charge density similar to that existing on the damaged hair epicuticle. Dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements shows that, in solution, the polymer + surfactant association results from an intricate balance between electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, which leads to the formation of at least two different types of micellar-like polymer + surfactant aggregates. The structure and physicochemical properties of such aggregates were found strongly dependent on the specific nature and concentration of the surfactant. The adsorption of the polymer + surfactant aggregates onto negatively charged surface was studied using a set of surface-sensitive techniques (quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, ellipsometry and Atomic Force Microscopy), which allows obtaining information about the adsorbed amount, the water content of the layers and the topography of the obtained films. Ion-dipole interactions between the negative charges of the surface and the oxyethylene groups of the polymer + surfactant aggregates appear as the main driving force of the deposition process. This is strongly dependent on the surfactant nature and its concentration, with the impact of the latter on the adsorption being especially critical when anionic surfactant are incorporated within the aggregates. This study opens important perspectives for modulating the deposition of a poorly interacting polymer onto negatively charged surfaces, which can impact in the fabrication on different aspects with technological and industrial interest.

Behavior of the water/vapor interface of chitosan solutions with an anionic surfactant: effect of polymer-surfactant interactions

The adsorption of mixtures formed by chitosan and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) at the water/vapor interface has been studied on the basis of their impact on the equilibrium surface tension of the interface, and the response of such an interface to mechanical deformations. The analysis of the surfactant binding to the chitosan chains evidenced that the chitosan-SLES solutions were mixtures of polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes and a non-negligible amount of free surfactant molecules. The interfacial properties showed two well-differentiated regions for interfacial adsorption as a function of the SLES concentration: (i) at a low surfactant concentration, co-adsorption of chitosan and SLES occurs, and (ii) at high concentrations, the surface is mostly occupied by SLES molecules. This behavior may be interpreted in terms of a complex equilibration mechanism of the interfacial layers, where different coupled dynamic processes may be involved. Furthermore, the use of the time-concentration superposition principle has confirmed the different dynamic behaviors of the chitosan-SLES adsorption as a function of the SLES concentration. This work sheds light on some of the most fundamental bases governing the physico-chemical behavior of mixtures formed by a biopolymer and a surfactant, where their complex behavior is governed by an intricate balance of bulk and interfacial interactions.

On Complex Coacervate Core Micelles: Structure-Function Perspectives

The co-assembly of ionic-neutral block copolymers with oppositely charged species produces nanometric colloidal complexes, known, among other names, as complex coacervates core micelles (C3Ms). C3Ms are of widespread interest in nanomedicine for controlled delivery and release, whilst research activity into other application areas, such as gelation, catalysis, nanoparticle synthesis, and sensing, is increasing. In this review, we discuss recent studies on the functional roles that C3Ms can fulfil in these and other fields, focusing on emerging structure-function relations and remaining knowledge gaps.

Deposition of Synthetic and Bio-Based Polycations onto Negatively Charged Solid Surfaces: Effect of the Polymer Cationicity, Ionic Strength, and the Addition of an Anionic Surfactant

The deposition of layers of different polycations (synthetic or derived from natural, renewable resources) onto oppositely charged surfaces has been studied using ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). Information about the thickness of the deposited layers and their water content was ascertained. The adsorption of the different polycations onto negatively charged surfaces was found to be a complex process, which is influenced by the chemical nature of the polymer chains, ionic strength, polymer concentration and the addition of additives such as surfactants. The experimental picture shows a good agreement with theoretical calculations performed using the Self-Consistent Mean Field (SCF) approach. The results show that the electrostatically-driven deposition can be tuned by modifying the physico-chemical properties of the solutions and the chemical nature of the adsorbed polymer. This versatile approach is a big step forward in aiding the design of new polymers for many industrial applications and, in particular, the design of sustainable washing formulations for cosmetic applications.

In honor to Ramón G. Rubio on the occasion of his 65th birthday

This Honorary Note is dedicated to the 65th birthday of Ramón G. Rubio and summarizes some of his contributions to the current knowledge in the science and technology of colloids and interfaces. Since 1995, Ramón González Rubio is Full Professor at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) where he has developed an extensive research activity in different scientific and technological aspects related to colloidal systems and interfacial phenomena: from particle-laden interfaces to polyelectrolyte multilayers, including the kinetics of simultaneous spreading and evaporation of solutions (and dispersions) and interfacial rheology. This broad research activity has contributed to some of the most recent advances in colloid and interface science, which is reflected in more than 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals and more than 4000 citations according to the Web of Science.

A closer physico-chemical look to the Layer-by-Layer electrostatic self-assembly of polyelectrolyte multilayers

The fabrication of polyelectrolyte multilayer films (PEMs) using the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) method is one of the most versatile approaches for manufacturing functional surfaces. This is the result of the possibility to control the assembly process of the LbL films almost at will, by changing the nature of the assembled materials (building blocks), the assembly conditions (pH, ionic strength, temperature, etc.) or even by changing some other operational parameters which may impact in the structure and physico-chemical properties of the obtained multi-layered films. Therefore, the understanding of the impact of the above mentioned parameters on the assembly process of LbL materials plays a critical role in the potential use of the LbL method for the fabrication of new functional materials with technological interest. This review tries to provide a broad physico-chemical perspective to the study of the fabrication process of PEMs by the LbL method, which allows one to take advantage of the many possibilities offered for this approach on the fabrication of new functional nanomaterials.

Impact of the bulk aggregation on the adsorption of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte-surfactant mixtures onto solid surfaces

The understanding of the deposition of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes-surfactant mixtures onto solid surfaces presents a high interest in current days due to the recognized impact of the obtained layers on different industrial sectors and the performance of several consumer products (e.g. formulations of shampoos and hair conditioners). This results from the broad range of structures and properties that can present the mixed layers, which in most of the cases mirror the association process occurring between the polyelectrolyte chains and the oppositely charged surfactants in the bulk. Therefore, the understanding of the adsorption processes and characteristics of the adsorbed layers can be only attained from a careful examination of the self-assembly processes occurring in the solution. This review aims to contribute to the understanding of the interaction of polyelectrolyte-surfactant mixtures with solid surfaces, which is probably one of the most underexplored aspects of these type of systems. For this purpose, a comprehensive discussion on the correlations between the aggregates formed in the solutions and the deposition of the obtained complexes upon such association onto solid surfaces will be presented. This makes it necessary to take a closer look to the most important forces driving such processes.