Complexation and coacervation of like-charged polyelectrolytes inspired by mussels

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1521521113
• Publication Date: 2016-02-02T04:45:31Z
• Authors: Sangsik Kim; Jun Huang; Yongjin Lee; Sandipan Dutta; Hee Young Yoo; Young Mee Jung; YongSeok Jho; Hongbo Zeng; Dong Soo Hwang
• Keywords: TYR; SPECTROSCOPY; Surface Properties; PROTEIN; POLYMER; cation-pi interaction; 02 engineering and technology; ADHESION; UV; like-charged coacervate; Bivalvia; Electrolytes; CATION-PI INTERACTIONS; complex coacervates; Animals; 0210 nano-technology; polyelectrolyte complexes; surface forces apparatus

Significance

Conventional coacervates can form on mixing oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions, due to electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged polymers. This report describes the first instance (to the best of our knowledge) of complexation and coacervation of two positively charged polyelectrolytes by overcoming longer-range electrostatic repulsion. The molecular force measurements and theoretical simulations demonstrate that the complexation of the like-charged coacervate is most likely driven by strong cation– π interactions inspired by marine mussel adhesives. This like-charged coacervation mechanism provides new insights into biological self-assembly processes and a new paradigm for engineering strong, reversible interactions between polymers underwater, which has various potential applications like encapsulation and dispersion of particles and cells.