title: Complexation and coacervation of like-charged polyelectrolytes inspired by mussels.
abstract: It is well known that polyelectrolyte complexes and coacervates can form on mixing oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions, due to mainly electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged polymers. Here, we report the first (to the best of our knowledge) complexation and coacervation of two positively charged polyelectrolytes, which provides a new paradigm for engineering strong, self-healing interactions between polyelectrolytes underwater and a new marine mussel-inspired underwater adhesion mechanism. Unlike the conventional complex coacervate, the like-charged coacervate is aggregated by strong short-range cation-π interactions by overcoming repulsive electrostatic interactions. The resultant phase of the like-charged coacervate comprises a thin and fragile polyelectrolyte framework and round and regular pores, implying a strong electrostatic correlation among the polyelectrolyte frameworks. The like-charged coacervate possesses a very low interfacial tension, which enables this highly positively charged coacervate to be applied to capture, carry, or encapsulate anionic biomolecules and particles with a broad range of applications.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea;
authors.forename: Sangsik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2V4, Canada;
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea; Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea;
authors.forename: Yongjin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea;
authors.forename: Sandipan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.affiliation: Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea;
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Mee
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea; Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea; dshwang@postech.ac.kr ysjho@apctp.org hongbo.zeng@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: YongSeok
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jho
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2V4, Canada; dshwang@postech.ac.kr ysjho@apctp.org hongbo.zeng@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Hongbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea; Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea; dshwang@postech.ac.kr ysjho@apctp.org hongbo.zeng@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Dong Soo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2487-2255
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes
keywords: cation–π interaction; complex coacervates; like-charged coacervate; polyelectrolyte complexes; surface forces apparatus
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