Abstract

RECENT ADVANCES AND FUTURE CHALLENGES IN THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING OF COMPLEX COACERVATION: 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MACROMOLECULAR SCIENCE VIEWPOINT

*Dr. Partha Sarathi Roy

ABSTRACT

Complex coacervation [formation of a dense macroion-rich phase (the coacervate) in equilibrium with a dilute macroion-poor phase (continuous phase or supernatant)] is a particular case of associative phase separation that occurs when oppositely charged macroions (or polyelectrolytes) are mixed. Since the pioneering work of Bungenberg de Jong and co-workers on gelatin–acacia gum complex coacervation in the 1920–40s, coacervates have received increasing research interest because a variety of mature and emerging technologies depend critically on the association of oppositely charged polymers or particles. Such association could involve charge complexation in solution. Unfortunately the theoretical underpinnings of complex coacervation are widely misunderstood and conceptual mistakes have propagated in the literature. As coacervate complex formation is a well-known and widely used, but little understood, phenomenon in physical polymer science, this Viewpoint represents an attempt to give a concise and comprehensive overview on the main research streams followed in this field regarding the parameters influencing the formation of complex coacervates encompassing various technological aspects enabling the investigation of complexes coacervates in industrial applications. Finally, a critical evaluation of perspectives and future challenges related to the further advancement and development of next generation materials are proposed and insights into the outlook of the field are explored.

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