Abstract
The structure of soluble polyelectrolyte complexes composed of heparin (Hep) and partially aminoacetalized poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAA) in aqueous solution was investigated by light scattering. The pH was fixed at 3.2 while the ionic strength and mixing ratio were varied. At high ionic strength (0.5), polyelectrolyte complexes were not formed owing to the screening effect of simple salts on polyion charges. At low ionic strength (0.005), polyelectrolyte complexes formed were stable and dispersed when either the polycation or the polyanion was in great excess, whereas the complexes became unstable and coagulated when the concentrations of polycation and polyanion approached each other. At intermediate ionic strength (0.1), when PVAA was in excess, complex formation was similar to that at low ionic strength (0.005); but with an excess of Hep, polyelectrolyte complexes with similar structure (i.e., roughly spherical with average diameters about 2,700 Å) were formed over a wide range of mixing ratio. This observation is of interest in connection with the physiological activity of Hep in vivo.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1043-1056 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1989 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Polymers and Plastics
- Materials Chemistry