Water‐soluble macromolecular co‐assemblies of star‐shaped polyelectrolytes

Abstract

Abstract This mini‐review reports on complex macromolecular architectures (interpolyelectrolyte complexes) based on star‐shaped polyelectrolytes. These complexes can be prepared in aqueous media via electrostatically driven co‐assembly of star‐shaped polyions (a) with oppositely charged linear homopolyelectrolytes or (b) with oppositely charged double hydrophilic (ionic/non‐ionic) diblock copolymers. In case (a), the complexes can be water‐soluble if the charge of the star‐shaped macromolecule is only partially compensated by a linear polyion. In case (b), the complexes retain their solubility in aqueous media even under a full charge compensation of the polymeric components. In both cases, the complex macromolecular architectures based on star‐shaped polyelectrolytes are characterized by a distinct compartmentalized structure of a micellar (‘core–corona’) type with an insoluble core, which is assembled from coupled monomer units of the oppositely charged polymeric components, and a hydrophilic, either ionic or non‐ionic, corona. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry