Dependence of depletion layer thickness on polymer concentration determined by Vincent's pragmatic and Donath's electrophoretic theories

Abstract

On the interface of a solid surface and a solution of nonadsorbing polymer there exists a depletion layer (DL), where the concentration of polymer segments is lower. Donath's electrophoretic theory, based on the decreased viscosity in the DL region, allows computing DL thickness from the relative (with and without polymer) electrophoretic mobility, the bulk viscosity, and the ionic strength. The aim of this work is to check experimentally Donath's nonlinear electrophoretic (NLE) theory under the most favorable conditions—liposomes in solutions of low-molecular poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). In order to determine DL thickness, the dependence of mobility on viscosity is chosen instead on ionic strength. The value obtained from NLE theory is compared with the DL thickness calculated by Vincent's pragmatic theory. The conformation-statistical parameters are calculated on the base of viscosimetric measurements of PEG solution. The results indicate a few shortcomings of NLE theory. The main one is that DL thickness does not depend on polymer concentration, a fact that is in discrepancy with the prediction of Vincent's theory. The conclusion is that NLE theory describes well the experimental dependence of the relative mobility on the bulk viscosity, but it is inapplicable to quantitative determination of DL thickness.