Abstract
Abstract Polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) nanoparticles were prepared using chitosan and sodium polymethacrylate solubilized in 2% acetic acid. General structural characterization was carried out using FTIR spectroscopy, TGA, and XRD. The mechanism of complex formation was investigated using turbidimetry, conductometry, viscometry, zeta potential measurements, and dynamic light scattering, as a function of carboxylate to aminium molar ratio. One of the main features of the resultant PECs was a decrease of chitosan-related crystallinity; on the other hand, thermal stability increased. A drastic increase in turbidity characterized the occurrence of solid, insoluble nanoparticles at a carboxyl/aminium molar ratio of ca. 0.7–0.8. At the same range, viscosity decrease was lower and conductivity increase was higher. All these changes were correlated to a less evident decrease in zeta potential and a drastic decrease in particle effective diameter, using a a proposed mechanism of complex formation based on the decrease of macromolecular dimensions of soluble polyelectrolyte complex clusters, followed by phase segregation.
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