Compact Saloplastic Poly(Acrylic Acid)/Poly(Allylamine) Complexes: Kinetic Control Over Composition, Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties

• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201201413
• Publication Date: 2012-09-20T10:15:28Z
• Authors: Andreas Reisch; Patricia Tirado; Emilie Roger; Fouzia Boulmedais; Dominique Collin; Jean‐Claude Voegel; Benoît Frisch; Pierre Schaaf; Joseph B. Schlenoff
• Keywords: Allylamine; Acrylic acid

Abstract Durable compact polyelectrolyte complexes (CoPECs) with controlled porosity and mechanical properties are prepared by ultracentrifugation. Because the starting materials, poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) poly(acrylic acid sodium salt) (PAA), weak acids/bases, both composition morphology solution pH. In addition, nonequilibrium nature of complexation can be exploited to provide a range compositions porosities under influence addition order speed, concentration. Confocal microscopy shows these “saloplastic” materials highly porous, where pore formation is attributed combination deswelling matrix expansion small inhomogenities osmotic pressure. The (15–70%) size (<5 μm >70 μm) tuned adjusting PAA PAH ratio, salt concentration, modulus CoPECs depends on ratio two polyelectrolytes, stoichiometric being stiffest due optimized charge pairing, which correlates maximized crosslinking density. Mechanical properties, sizes, density make them well suited three dimensional supports for tissue engineering applications.