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pH-sensitive nanostructured architectures based on synthetic and/or natural weak polyelectrolytes

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Abstract

This study aims to evidence the influence of polyelectrolytes structure and the number of double layers on the properties of some new nanostructured architectures formed by layer-by-layer self-assembly of complementary weak polyelectrolytes on planar surfaces. For this purpose, we used chitosan and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) as polycations, and poly(acrylic acid) and poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid–co-acrylic acid) as polyanions. To get a direct image on the polyelectrolyte multilayers formation and properties, gravimetry, infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy have been used. The capacity of the polyions to overcompensate the complementary polyions charges, and thus to influence the swelling degree in water of thin films, was strongly influenced by the chain structure and flexibility. A special attention was paid to the responsiveness of the new composite materials to the pH of the swelling environment.

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Abbreviations

AFM:

Atomic force microscopy

CS:

Chitosan

hmax :

Maximum height on film surface

K:

Surface kurtosis

LbL:

Layer-by-layer

P:

Polymer-adsorbed amount

PAA:

Poly(acrylic acid)

PAH:

Poly(allylamine hydrochloride)

PAMPSAA:

Poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl propanesulfonic acid - co - acrylic acid)

pzc:

Point of zero charge

Ra :

Average surface roughness

RMS:

Root-mean-square roughness

SD:

Swelling degree

SK:

Surface skewness

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Acknowledgments

The financial support of European Social Fund–“Cristofor I. Simionescu” Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (ID POSDRU/89/1.5/S/55216) is gratefully acknowledged. Dr. Dilyana Paneva is acknowledged for PAMPSAA sample.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Aleea Grigore Ghica Voda 41 A, 700487, Iasi, Romania

    Marcela Mihai & Iuliana Stoica

  2. Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research, Hohe Strasse 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany

    Simona Schwarz

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  1. Marcela Mihai
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  2. Iuliana Stoica
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  3. Simona Schwarz
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Correspondence to Marcela Mihai.

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Mihai, M., Stoica, I. & Schwarz, S. pH-sensitive nanostructured architectures based on synthetic and/or natural weak polyelectrolytes. Colloid Polym Sci 289, 1387–1396 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-011-2462-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-011-2462-4

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