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Polyelectrolyte complexes based on chitosan and poly( L ‐glutamic acid)
Author(s) -
Yin Jingbo,
Dai Zhengzhan,
Yan Shifeng,
Cao Tian,
Ma Jia,
Chen Xuesi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2247
Subject(s) - polyelectrolyte , thermogravimetric analysis , chitosan , ionic strength , aqueous solution , polymer , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , dynamic light scattering , ionic bonding , transmission electron microscopy , infrared spectroscopy , materials science , stoichiometry , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , nanoparticle , ion , engineering
Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) were prepared by mixing aqueous solutions of chitosan (CS) and poly( L ‐glutamic acid) (PLGA) at various pH. It was found that the stoichiometry of the PECs depends on pH. An investigation of the PECs using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy proved that the formation of the complexes is due to electrostatic interaction between NH 3 + groups of CS and COO − groups of PLGA. The solid PECs were characterized using wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, which suggested that a strong interaction occurs between the two polymers at pH = 4 or 5 and relatively weak interaction at pH = 3. These results were further confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis data. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the complexes have a spherical shape. The effect of ionic strength on the size of the PECs was also studied using dynamic light scattering. It was found that the size of the PECs is dependent on pH. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry