Relaxation Mechanism of Complex Coacervate Core Hydrogels: Chain Length Asymmetry
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초록
내용
Complex coacervation is a liquid-liquid phase separation when two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes are mixed in an aqueous solvent, which can be incorporated into inhomogeneous polymers to produce hydrogels. The hydrophilic and charged nature of the coacervate cores enhances the transportation efficiency and stability of the loading compounds in various physiological conditions. However, much less is known about the dynamics of molecular partitioning in the self-assembled structures, yet this is the fundamental process to understand stimuli-responsiveness and release of loading materials. In this presentation, relaxation dynamics of complex coacervate core hydrogels is addressed using model ABA block polyelectrolyte systems. For spherical coacervate cores, chain movement perpendicular to the interface is crucial to achieve reproducible and/or equilibrium structures. The results provide key parameters to regulate the relaxation dynamics and further insights to harness macroscopic changes of structural and mechanical properties in the electrostatically associating systems.