Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Complex coacervation core micelles. Colloidal stability and aggregation mechanism.

Stefan van der Burgh1, Arie de Keizer, Martien A Cohen Stuart

  • 1Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 6, 6703 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|April 5, 2005
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Stiffness Reinforcement in Polymer Networks Through Supramolecular Topological Linking.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026
Same author

Dilemma-Solving PIC Vesicles: Ligand-Driven Assembly of Stable yet Degradable Nanocarriers for Cytosolic Protein Delivery.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026
Same author

Rational Design of Cationic Nanogels with Serum Tolerance for Efficient siRNA Delivery and Antitumor Therapy.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2025
Same author

Regulated PEGylation of cationic nanogels for enhanced siRNA delivery and orthotopic ovarian tumor therapy.

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·2025
Same author

Tailoring diblock copolymers for efficient siPLK1 delivery and enhanced gene therapy of orthotopic osteosarcoma.

Journal of materials chemistry. B·2025
Same author

Zwitterionic Brush-Grafted Interfacial Bio-Lubricant Evades Complement C3-Mediated Macrophage Phagocytosis for Osteoarthritis Therapy.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2025

Stable polymer micelles formed via complex coacervation require a specific corona block length. Diblock copolymer structure and polyelectrolyte properties critically influence micelle formation and colloidal stability.

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Colloid Science
  • Materials Chemistry

Background:

  • Complex coacervation is a liquid-liquid phase separation process driven by electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged polymers.
  • Polymeric micelles are self-assembled core-shell structures with potential applications in drug delivery and nanotechnology.
  • Understanding the factors governing micelle formation and stability is crucial for designing advanced materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the formation and colloidal stability of core-micelles prepared via complex coacervation.
  • To determine the influence of diblock copolymer architecture and polyelectrolyte properties on micelle characteristics.
  • To establish design principles for stable polymeric micelles through controlled complex coacervation.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Preparation of core-micelles using various polyelectrolytes and oppositely charged diblock copolymers.
  • Characterization of micelle formation and colloidal stability using dynamic light scattering (DLS).
  • Quantitative analysis of polymer interactions and phase behavior through titrations.

Main Results:

  • Micelle formation was observed at specific mixing ratios where the net charge of the polyelectrolyte mixture approached zero.
  • Colloidal stability was highly dependent on diblock copolymer block lengths, homopolymer molecular weights, and the chemical nature of ionic groups.
  • A minimum corona block length, at least three times the core block length, was identified as essential for stable micelle formation.
  • Increasing corona block length decreased the aggregation number, consistent with scaling models for neutral coronas.
  • Short neutral blocks or highly asymmetric block length ratios led to macroscopic precipitation or failed micelle formation.

Conclusions:

  • Complex coacervation offers a viable route for preparing polymeric core-micelles.
  • Diblock copolymer structure, particularly the corona block length, is a critical determinant of micelle stability.
  • Precise control over polymer architecture and composition is necessary to prevent precipitation and achieve stable micellar structures.