ИСТИНА

This contribution considers interpolyelectrolyte complexes resulting from the interaction of star-shaped ionic macromolecules, (a) homopolyelectrolyte stars or (b) bis-hydrophilic ionic/non-ionic miktoarm stars, with the oppositely charged linear polyions in aqueous media. In the case of homopolyelectrolyte stars (case (a)), the formation of micelle-like complex species is observed if charged groups of the star-shaped polymeric component are present in a certain excess compared to charged groups of the linear polymeric component. Each micellelike complex species contains a core assembled from electrostatically coupled fragments of the polymeric components and a solubilizing corona built up from excess (free) arms of the homopolyelectrolyte star. In the case of bis-hydrophilic ionic/non-ionic miktoarm stars (case (b)), morphology of the resultant complex species is determined by the charge-to-charge stoichiometry of mixtures of the oppositely charged polymeric components. If charged groups of the miktoarm star are present in a certain excess compared to charged groups of the linear polymeric component, micelle-like complex species are formed, they apparently having Janus-type structure due to non-centrosymmetric character of the original miktoarm star. Otherwise, the formation of colloidally-stable aggregated complex species is found, which being of distinct vesicular structure when charged groups of the star-shaped and linear polymeric components are present in the system in equivalent (1:1) amounts. The wall of each vesicle (interpolyelectrolyte polymersome) is assembled from the electrostatically coupled fragments of the polymeric components and sandwiched between outer and inner solubilizing brushes built up from hydrophilic non-ionic arms of the miktoarm star.