Abstract
Polyelectrolytes (PEs) have been the aim of many research studies over the past years. PE films are prepared by the simple and versatile layer-by-layer (LbL) approach using alternating assemblies of polymer pairs involving a polyanion and a polycation. The adsorption of the alternating PE multiple layers is driven by different forces (i.e., electrostatic interactions, H-bonding, charge transfer interactions, hydrophobic forces, etc.), which enable an accurate control over the physical properties of the film (i.e., thickness at the nanoscale and morphology). These PE nano-assemblies have a wide range of biomedical and healthcare applications, including drug delivery, protein delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, and so forth. This review provides a concise overview of the most outstanding research on the design and fabrication of PE nanofilms. Their nanostructures, molecular interactions with biomolecules, and applications in the biomedical field are briefly discussed. Finally, the perspectives of further research directions in the development of LbL nano-assemblies for healthcare and medical applications are highlighted.
Highlights
Polyelectrolytes (PEs) are a singular kind of polymers with ionizable groups in each of their repeating units that dissociate in aqueous solutions, making the polymers charged [1]
The antibacterial efficiency of the LbL assemblies in the presence and absence of Ag nanoparticles was tested, and it was found that the incorporation of the nanoparticles increased antimicrobial activity towards S. aureus and E. coli up to 99% inhibition due to the release of ions in the aqueous solution
During the LbL assembly process, different types of interactions between PEs lead to the film growth
Summary
Polyelectrolytes (PEs) are a singular kind of polymers with ionizable groups (electrolytes) in each of their repeating units that dissociate in aqueous solutions, making the polymers charged [1]. The temperature has a critical role in controlling the solubility of the building blocks, and in some cases dominates over the effect of the ionic strength and the pH level It can modify the growth of strong PEs such as poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(4-styrene sulfonate of sodium) (PSS) multilayer systems from linear to exponential [12]. This technique affords a high loading of the therapeutic due to the high surface area of the porous particle and is applicable to a series of materials of different sizes, from proteins to low molecular weight drugs Sacrificial templates, such as inorganic nanoparticles [19,20], carbon nanotubes [21], quantum dots [22], etc., can be removed using conditions that do not significantly affect the activity of the loaded therapeutic, forming capsules with high loadings. Some representative examples of LbL assemblies designed for biomedical applications will be described, with the aim to provide the reader with a general overview of the topic
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