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Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles
Published on: March 2, 2020
Complexation and coacervation of like-charged polyelectrolytes inspired by mussels
Sangsik Kim1, Jun Huang2, Yongjin Lee3
1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea;
Abstract:
It is well known that polyelectrolyte complexes and coacervates can form on mixing oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions, due to mainly electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged polymers. Here, we report the first (to the best of our knowledge) complexation and coacervation of two positively charged polyelectrolytes, which provides a new paradigm for engineering strong, self-healing interactions between polyelectrolytes underwater and a new marine mussel-inspired underwater adhesion mechanism. Unlike the conventional complex coacervate, the like-charged coacervate is aggregated by strong short-range cation-π interactions by overcoming repulsive electrostatic interactions. The resultant phase of the like-charged coacervate comprises a thin and fragile polyelectrolyte framework and round and regular pores, implying a strong electrostatic correlation among the polyelectrolyte frameworks. The like-charged coacervate possesses a very low interfacial tension, which enables this highly positively charged coacervate to be applied to capture, carry, or encapsulate anionic biomolecules and particles with a broad range of applications.
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