Relaxation dynamics at different time scales in electrostatic complexes: time-salt superposition

Interfacial Rheology of Hydrogen-Bonded Polymer Multilayers Assembled at Liquid Interfaces: Influence of Anchoring Energy and Hydrophobic Interactions

We study the 2D rheological properties of hydrogen-bonded polymer multilayers assembled directly at dodecane-water and air-water interfaces using pendant drop/bubble dilation and the double-wall ring method for interfacial shear. We use poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as a proton acceptor and a series of polyacrylic acids as proton donors. The PAA series of chains with varying hydrophobicity was fashioned from poly(acrylic acid), (PAA), polymethacrylic acid (PMAA), and a homemade hydrophobically modified polymer. The latter consisted of a PAA backbone covalently grafted with C12 moieties at 1% mol (referred to as PAA-1C12). Replacing PAA with the more hydrophobic PMAA provides a route for combining hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions to increase the strength and/or the number of links connecting the polyacid chains to PVP. This systematic replacement allows for control of the ability of the monomer units inside the absorbed polymer layer to reorganize as the interface is sheared or compressed. Consequently, the interplay of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions leads to control of the resistance of the polymer multilayers to both shear and dilation. Using PAA-1C12 as the first layer improves the anchoring energy of a few monomers of the chain without changing the strength of the monomer-monomer contact in the complex layer. In this way, the layer does not resist shear but resists compression. This strategy provides the means for using hydrophobicity to control the interfacial dynamics of the complexes adsorbed at the interface of the bubbles and droplets that either elongate or buckle upon compression. Moreover, we demonstrate the pH responsiveness of these interfacial multilayers by adding aliquots of NaOH to the acidic water subphase surrounding the bubbles and droplets. Subsequent pH changes can eventually break the polymer complex, providing opportunities for encapsulation/release applications.

Bicontinuous Fluid Structure with Low Cohesive Energy: Molecular Basis for Exceptionally Low Interfacial Tension of Complex Coacervate Fluids

An exceptionally low interfacial tension of a dense fluid of concentrated polyelectrolyte complexes, phase-separated from a biphasic fluid known as complex coacervates, represents a unique and highly sought-after materials property that inspires novel applications from superior coating to wet adhesion. Despite extensive studies and broad interest, the molecular and structural bases for the unique properties of complex coacervates are unclear. Here, a microphase-separated complex coacervate fluid generated by mixing a recombinant mussel foot protein-1 (mfp-1) as the polycation and hyaluronic acid (HA) as the polyanion at stoichiometric ratios was macroscopically phase-separated into a dense complex coacervate and a dilute supernatant phase to enable separate characterization of the two fluid phases. Surprisingly, despite up to 4 orders of magnitude differing density of the polyelectrolytes, the diffusivity of water in these two phases was found to be indistinguishable. The presence of unbound, bulk-like, water in the dense fluid can be reconciled with a water population that is only weakly perturbed by the polyelectrolyte interface and network. This hypothesis was experimentally validated by cryo-TEM of the macroscopically phase-separated dense complex coacervate phase that was found to be a bicontinuous and biphasic nanostructured network, in which one of the phases was confirmed by staining techniques to be water and the other polyelectrolyte complexes. We conclude that a weak cohesive energy between water-water and water-polyelectrolytes manifests itself in a bicontinuous network, and is responsible for the exceptionally low interfacial energy of this complex fluid phase with respect to virtually any surface within an aqueous medium.

Complex coacervates of oppositely charged co-polypeptides inspired by the sandcastle worm glue

Complex coacervates of oppositely charged co-polypeptides inspired by sandcastle worm glue as a suitable modality for water-resistant bioadhesives.

Saloplastics: processing compact polyelectrolyte complexes

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) are prepared by mixing solutions of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. These diffuse, amorphous precipitates may be compacted into dense materials, CoPECs, by ultracentrifugation (ucPECs) or extrusion (exPECs). The presence of salt water is essential in plasticizing PECs to allow them to be reformed and fused. When hydrated, CoPECs are versatile, rugged, biocompatible, elastic materials with applications including bioinspired materials, supports for enzymes and (nano)composites. In this review, various methods for making CoPECs are described, as well as fundamental responses of CoPEC mechanical properties to salt concentration. Possible applications as synthetic cartilage, enzymatically active biocomposites, self-healing materials, and magnetic nanocomposites are presented.

A molecular view of the role of chirality in charge-driven polypeptide complexation

Polyelectrolyte molecules of opposite charge are known to form stable complexes in solution. Depending on the system conditions, such complexes can be solid or liquid. The latter are known as complex coacervates, and they appear as a second liquid phase in equilibrium with a polymer-dilute aqueous phase. This work considers the complexation between poly(glutamic acid) and poly(lysine), which is of particular interest because it enables examination of the role of chirality in ionic complexation, without changes to the overall chemical composition. Systematic atomic-level simulations are carried out for chains of poly(glutamic acid) and poly(lysine) with varying combinations of chirality along the backbone. Achiral chains form unstructured complexes. In contrast, homochiral chains lead to formation of stable β-sheets between molecules of opposite charge, and experiments indicate that β-sheet formation is correlated with the formation of solid precipitates. Changes in chirality along the peptide backbone are found to cause "kinks" in the β-sheets. These are energetically unfavorable and result in irregular structures that are more difficult to pack together. Taken together, these results provide new insights that may be of use for the development of simple yet strong bioinspired materials consisting of β-rich domains and amorphous regions.

Ionically cross-linked poly(allylamine) as a stimulus-responsive underwater adhesive: ionic strength and pH effects

Gel-like coacervates that adhere to both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates under water have recently been prepared by ionically cross-linking poly(allylamine) (PAH) with pyrophosphate (PPi) and tripolyphosphate (TPP). Among the many advantages of these underwater adhesives (which include their simple preparation and low cost) is their ability to dissolve on demand when exposed to high or low pH. To further analyze their stimulus-responsive properties, we have investigated the pH and ionic strength effects on the formation, rheology and adhesion of PAH/PPi and PAH/TPP complexes. The ionic cross-linker concentrations needed to form these adhesives decreased with increasing pH and ionic strength (although the complexes ceased to form when the parent solution pH exceeded ca. 8.5; i.e., the effective pKa of PAH). Once formed, their ionic cross-links were most stable (as inferred from their relaxation times) at near-neutral or slightly alkaline pH values (of roughly 6.5-9) and at low ionic strengths. The decrease in ionic cross-link stability within complexes prepared at other pH values and at elevated (150-300 mM) NaCl concentrations diminished both the strength and longevity of adhesion (although, under most conditions tested, the short-term tensile adhesion strengths remained above 10(5) Pa). Additionally, the sensitivity of PAH/PPi and PAH/TPP complexes to ionic strength was demonstrated as a potential route to injectable adhesive design (where spontaneous adhesive formation was triggered via injection of low-viscosity, colloidal PAH/TPP dispersions into phosphate buffered saline). Thus, while the sensitivity of ionically cross-linked PAH networks to pH and ionic strength can weaken their adhesion, it can also impart them with additional functionality, such as minimally invasive, injectable delivery, and ability to form and dissolve their bonds on demand.

Interplay of Hydrogen Bonding and Hydrophobic Interactions to Control the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Multilayers at the Oil-Water Interface

We probe the mechanical shear and compression properties of hydrogen-bonded polymer multilayers directly assembled at the oil-water interface using interfacial rheology techniques. We show that the polymer multilayers behave mechanically like a transient network, with elastic moduli that can be varied over 2 orders of magnitude by controlling the type and strength of physical interactions involved in the multilayers, which are controlled by the pH and the hydrophobicity of the polymer. Indeed, the interplay of hydrogen and hydrophobic interactions enables one to obtain a tighter and stronger network at the interface. Moreover, we show how a simple LBL process applied directly on emulsion droplets leads to encapsulation of a model oil, dodecane, as well as perfume molecules.

Chirality-selected phase behaviour in ionic polypeptide complexes

Polyelectrolyte complexes present new opportunities for self-assembled soft matter. Factors determining whether the phase of the complex is solid or liquid remain unclear. Ionic polypeptides enable examination of the effects of stereochemistry on complex formation. Here we demonstrate that chirality determines the state of polyelectrolyte complexes, formed from mixing dilute solutions of oppositely charged polypeptides, via a combination of electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Fluid complexes occur when at least one of the polypeptides in the mixture is racemic, which disrupts backbone hydrogen-bonding networks. Pairs of purely chiral polypeptides, of any sense, form compact, fibrillar solids with a β-sheet structure. Analogous behaviour occurs in micelles formed from polypeptide block copolymers with polyethylene oxide, where assembly into aggregates with either solid or fluid cores, and eventually into ordered phases at high concentrations, is possible. Chirality is an exploitable tool for manipulating material properties in polyelectrolyte complexation.

Scaling properties of the shear modulus of polyelectrolyte complex coacervates: a time-pH superposition principle

A novel time-pH superposition principle describes the complex shear moduli in polyelectrolyte complex coacervates.

Evidence of a two-step process and pathway dependency in the thermodynamics of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)/poly(sodium acrylate) complexation

Recent studies have pointed out the importance of polyelectrolyte assembly in the elaboration of innovative nanomaterials. Beyond their structures, many important questions on the thermodynamics of association remain unanswered. Here, we investigate the complexation between poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(sodium acrylate) (PANa) chains using a combination of three techniques: isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), static and dynamic light scattering and electrophoresis. Upon addition of PDADMAC to PANa or vice-versa, the results obtained by the different techniques agree well with each other, and reveal a two-step process. The primary process is the formation of highly charged polyelectrolyte complexes of size 100 nm. The secondary process is the transition towards a coacervate phase made of rich and poor polymer droplets. The binding isotherms measured are accounted for using a phenomenological model that provides the thermodynamic parameters for each reaction. Small positive enthalpies and large positive entropies consistent with a counterion release scenario are found throughout this study. Furthermore, this work stresses the importance of the underestimated formulation pathway or mixing order in polyelectrolyte complexation.

Probing of field-induced structures and their dynamics in ferrofluids using oscillatory rheology

We probe field-induced structures and their dynamics in ferrofluids using oscillatory rheology. The magnetic field dependence of the relaxation time and crossover modulus showed two distinct regions, indicating the different microstructures in those regions. The observed relaxation at various magnetic field strengths indicates that side chains are attached to the pinned single-sphere-width chains between the rheometer plates. Our results suggest that the ferrofluid under a magnetic field exhibits a soft solidlike behavior whose relaxation is governed by the imposed strain rate and the magnetic field. Using the scaling factors obtained from the frequency and modulus at the crossover point in the oscillatory rheological measurements, the constant strain-rate frequency sweep data is superimposed onto a single master curve. The frequency scaling factor increases with the strain rate as a power law with an exponent close to unity, whereas the amplitude scaling factor is almost strain-rate-independent at high magnetic field strengths. These findings are useful for a better understanding of field-induced ordering of nanoparticles in fluids and their optimization for practical applications.

Three-phase interactions and interfacial transport phenomena in coacervate/oil/water systems

Complex coacervation is an associative liquid/liquid phase separation resulting in the formation of two liquid phases: a polymer-rich coacervate phase and a dilute continuous solvent phase. In the presence of a third liquid phase in the form of disperse oil droplets, the coacervate phase tends to wet the oil/water interface. This affinity has long been known and used for the formation of core/shell capsules. However, while encapsulation by simple or complex coacervation has been used empirically for decades, there is a lack of a thorough understanding of the three-phase wetting phenomena that control the formation of encapsulated, compound droplets and the role of the viscoelasticity of the biopolymers involved. In this contribution, we review and discuss the interplay of wetting phenomena and fluid viscoelasticity in coacervate/oil/water systems from the perspective of colloid chemistry and fluid dynamics, focusing on aspects of rheology, interfacial tension measurements at the coacervate/solvent interface, and on the formation and fragmentation of three-phase compound drops.

Tough strained fibers of a polyelectrolyte complex: pretensioned polymers

Polyelectrolyte complexes, long considered “unprocessible”, are transformed from brittle to tough by extrusion into highly strained fibers with a salt/temperature equivalence relaxation and efficient shape memory in hot water.

Heteroprotein complex coacervation: bovine β-lactoglobulin and lactoferrin

Lactoferrin (LF) and β-lactoglobulin (BLG), strongly basic and weakly acidic bovine milk proteins, form optically clear coacervates under highly limited conditions of pH, ionic strength I, total protein concentration C(P), and BLG:LF stoichiometry. At 1:1 weight ratio, the coacervate composition has the same stoichiometry as its supernatant, which along with DLS measurements is consistent with an average structure LF(BLG2)2. In contrast to coacervation involving polyelectrolytes here, coacervates only form at I < 20 mM. The range of pH at which coacervation occurs is similarly narrow, ca. 5.7-6.2. On the other hand, suppression of coacervation is observed at high C(P), similar to the behavior of some polyelectrolyte-colloid systems. It is proposed that the structural homogeneity of complexes versus coacervates with polyelectrolytes greatly reduces the entropy of coacervation (both chain configuration and counterion loss) so that a very precise balance of repulsive and attractive forces is required for phase separation of the coacervate equilibrium state. The liquid-liquid phase transition can however be obscured by the kinetics of BLG aggregation which can compete with coacervation by depletion of BLG.

Physical gels based on charge-driven bridging of nanoparticles by triblock copolymers

We have prepared an aqueous physical gel consisting of negatively charged silica nanoparticles bridged by ABA triblock copolymers, in which the A blocks are positively charged and the B block is neutral and water-soluble. Irreversible aggregation of the silica nanoparticles was prevented by precoating them with a neutral hydrophilic polymer. Both the elastic plateau modulus and the relaxation time increase slowly as the gel ages, indicating an increase both in the number of active bridges and in the strength with which the end blocks are adsorbed. The rate of this aging process can be increased significantly by applying a small shear stress to the sample. Our results indicate that charge-driven bridging of nanoparticles by triblock copolymers is a promising strategy for thickening of aqueous particle containing materials, such as water-based coatings.

Direct measurement of the strength of single ionic bonds between hydrated charges

The strength of ionic bonds is essentially unknown, despite their widespread occurrence in natural and man-made assemblies. Here, we use single-molecule force spectroscopy to measure their strength directly. We disrupt a complex between two oppositely charged polyelectrolyte chains and find two modes of rupture: one ionic bond at a time, or cooperative rupture of many bonds at once. For both modes, disruption of the ionic bonds can be described quantitatively as an activated process. The height of the energy barrier is not only lowered by added salt, but also by the applied force. We extract unperturbed ionic bond lifetimes that range from milliseconds for single ionic bonds at high salt concentration to tens of years for small complexes of five ionic bonds at low salt concentration.

Time-humidity-superposition principle in electrical conductivity spectra of ion-conducting polymers

We analyze the scaling properties of the ac conductivity spectra of ion-conducting polyelectrolyte complexes of different compositions. Spectra were taken at ambient temperature but at different relative humidities. For the first time, we report on a scaling principle for conductivity spectra termed "time-humidity-superposition principle" in analogy with the well-known time-temperature-superposition principle. This model-free scaling holds for different materials over several decades in frequency. It implies that the hydration is activating ion motion over short and long distances in a similar general way, a concept so far only established for thermal energy.