Micellar Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes with a Compartmentalized
Shell
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Abstract
We investigate the formation of micellar
interpolyelectrolyte complexes
(IPECs) from multicompartment micelles (MCMs) of polybutadiene-<i>block</i>-poly(1-methyl-2-vinylpyridinium methylsulfate)-<i>block</i>-poly(methacrylic acid) (BVqMAA) triblock terpolymers
and polycations of opposite charge. As cationic material, predominantly
a polymer with a high charge density is used: quaternized poly(2-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)methylamino)ethyl
methacrylate) (PDAMAq), which carries two positive net charges per
monomer unit. Upon IPEC formation at different charge stoichiometries,
particles with a compartmentalized IPEC shell are formed. These rather
unusual structures even form when both BVqMAA micelles and PDAMAq
are mixed at high salinity, followed by dialysis, indicating that
the structures formed are not kinetically trapped. Whereas the nature
of the polycation seems to play a minor role, our studies suggest
that the length of the PMAA corona is the key factor for the formation
of a compartmentalized IPEC shell