Interaction of ampholyte dendrimers with linear polyelectrolytes

Abstract

The interaction of ampholyte propylenimine dendrimers containing peripheral carboxyl groups and inner tertiary amino groups with linear polyelectrolytes has been studied. Both in acidic and alkaline media up to pH ∼ pI, dendritic polyampholytes can form interpolyelectrolyte complexes with flexible linear polyanions and polycations. A variation in the composition of complexes with a change in pH is associated with the formation of intramolecular zwitterion pairs in a dendrimer molecule. The ability of interpolyelectrolyte complexes to dissolve in water is shown to be determined by the degree of dissociation of ionogenic groups of the dendrimer not directly involved in the formation of interpolyelectrolyte salt bonds stabilizing the complex. It has been demonstrated that the territorial separation of carboxyl and tertiary amino groups in the polyampholyte dendrimers is reflected in different structures of interpolyelectrolyte complexes formed by dendrimers with oppositely charged linear polyions.