Issue 36, 2017

The effect of comb architecture on complex coacervation

Abstract

Complex coacervation is a widely utilized technique for effecting phase separation, though predictive understanding of molecular-level details remains underdeveloped. Here, we couple coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations with experimental efforts using a polypeptide-based model system to investigate how a comb-like architecture affects complex coacervation and coacervate stability. Specifically, the phase separation behavior of linear polycation-linear polyanion pairs was compared to that of comb polycation-linear polyanion and comb polycation-comb polyanion pairs. The comb architecture was found to mitigate cooperative interactions between oppositely charged polymers, as no discernible phase separation was observed for comb-comb pairs and complex coacervation of linear-linear pairs yielded stable coacervates at higher salt concentration than linear-comb pairs. This behavior was attributed to differences in counterion release by linear vs. comb polymers during polyeletrolyte complexation. Additionally, the comb polycation formed coacervates with both stereoregular poly(L-glutamate) and racemic poly(D,L-glutamate), whereas the linear polycation formed coacervates only with the racemic polyanion. In contrast, solid precipitates were obtained from mixtures of stereoregular poly(L-lysine) and poly(L-glutamate). Moreover, the formation of coacervates from cationic comb polymers incorporating up to ∼90% pendant zwitterionic groups demonstrated the potential for inclusion of comonomers to modulate the hydrophilicity and/or other properties of a coacervate-forming polymer. These results provide the first detailed investigation into the role of polymer architecture on complex coacervation using a chemically and architecturally well-defined model system, and highlight the need for additional research on this topic.

Graphical abstract: The effect of comb architecture on complex coacervation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 May 2017
Accepted
23 Aug 2017
First published
23 Aug 2017

Org. Biomol. Chem., 2017,15, 7630-7642

The effect of comb architecture on complex coacervation

B. M. Johnston, C. W. Johnston, R. A. Letteri, T. K. Lytle, C. E. Sing, T. Emrick and S. L. Perry, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2017, 15, 7630 DOI: 10.1039/C7OB01314K

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