Effect of Charge Density and Topology on Polyelectrolyte Complex Coacervation

ORAL

Abstract

An aqueous solution of oppositely-charged polyelectrolytes can undergo associative phase separation into polyelectrolyte-dense and polyelectrolyte-dilute phases, a process known as complex coacervation. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in predicting the effect of the polyelectrolytes' molecular features on coacervation, driven by new efforts in theory and computation. In particular, chain length, charge density and charge spacing have been examined, alongside the polyelectrolyte and salt concentrations in solution. Experimental coacervation studies have either employed polydisperse statistical copolymers or, more recently, recombinant protein segments with deterministic sequence. Using polypeptoids with a controlled monomer sequence and lack of backbone hydrogen bonding as model polyelectrolytes, we examine the effect of charge density and topology (spacing and grouping of charges) on coacervation. In addition, we compare the experimental results with the theoretical models, and discuss discrepancies and current limitations.

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Presenters

  • Emmanouela Filippidi

    Mechanical Engineering, UCSB-University of California Santa Barbara, Mechanical Engineering, UC Santa Barbara

Authors

  • Emmanouela Filippidi

    Mechanical Engineering, UCSB-University of California Santa Barbara, Mechanical Engineering, UC Santa Barbara

  • Anastasia Patterson

    Chemical Engineering and Materials, Univ of California - Santa Barbara, Chemical Engineering, UC Santa Barbara, Univ of California - Santa Barbara

  • Scott Danielsen

    Chemical Engineering, UC Santa Barbara, Univ of California - Santa Barbara

  • Claus Eisenbach

    Materials Research Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara

  • Glenn Fredrickson

    Univ of California - Santa Barbara, UC Santa Barbara, Materials Research Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara, Chemical Engineering, Univ of California - Santa Barbara, Chemical Engineering, Materials, and Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, University of California - Santa Barbara, Materials Research Laboratory and Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Rachel Segalman

    University of California, Santa Barbara, Univ of California - Santa Barbara, Chemical Engineering and Materials, Univ of California - Santa Barbara, Chemical Engineering, UC Santa Barbara

  • Megan Valentine

    Mechanical Engineering, UCSB-University of California Santa Barbara, Mechanical Engineering, UC Santa Barbara, Mechanical Engineering, Univ of California - Santa Barbara, Mechanical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara