Abstract
Protein-containing polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) are a diverse class of materials, composed of two or more oppositely charged polyelectrolytes that condense and phase separate near overall charge neutrality. Such phase-separation can take on a variety of morphologies from macrophase separated liquid condensates, to solid precipitates, to monodispersed spherical micelles. In this review, we present an overview of recent advances in protein-containing PECs, with an overall goal of defining relevant design parameters for macro- and microphase separated PECs. For both classes of PECs, the influence of protein characteristics, such as surface charge and patchiness, co-polyelectrolyte characteristics, such as charge density and structure, and overall solution characteristics, such as salt concentration and pH, are considered. After overall design features are established, potential applications in food processing, biosensing, drug delivery, and protein purification are discussed and recent characterization techniques for protein-containing PECs are highlighted.
Highlights
Polyelectrolyte complexation is a process in which oppositely charged polyelectrolytes associate and release bound counterions to decrease the free energy of the solution
The most universal approach to incorporate proteins into polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) relies on protein partitioning into a PEC formed by two other polyelectrolytes
Protein-containing polyelectrolyte complexes are an exciting class of materials with a range of applications in the food, personal care, and biomedical industries
Summary
Polyelectrolyte complexation is a process in which oppositely charged polyelectrolytes associate and release bound counterions to decrease the free energy of the solution. Studied by Bungenberg de Jong and coworkers in the 19300 s, the first polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) systems were protein and polysaccharide systems that were found to undergo liquid–liquid (complex coacervation) or solid–liquid (precipitation) phase separation [1]. This phase separation resulted from a two-step process: first, oppositely charged polyelectrolytes associated due to coulombic attraction to form a PEC and second, the entropic gain from bound counterion release drove macroscopic phase separation. 1998, a few years after their initial demonstration of charge-driven self-assembly This original microphase separated protein PEC incorporated lysozyme as a model protein. We initially focus on macrophase form a complex coacervate phase discuss self-assembly to form to PEC Adapted from [35] with permission from The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2016
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call