Self-assembled gels from biological and synthetic polyelectrolytes

Authors

Paul Calvert, UMass DartmouthFollow
Skander Limem, University of Massachusetts
Don McCallum, University of WollongongFollow
Gordon G. Wallace, University of WollongongFollow
Marc in het Panhuis, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

64140

Publication Details

Calvert, P., Limem, S., McCallum, D., Wallace, G. & in het Panhuis, M. (2012). Self-assembled gels from biological and synthetic polyelectrolytes. MRS Proceedings, 1418 (N/A), 51-56.

Abstract

Inkjet printing of alternate layers of anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes allows organized gels to form with structures similar to those made by layer--by-layer dipping methods but very much faster. Structures of gels formed using slow and fast inkjet printing systems are compared using elemental analysis, swelling and diffusion kinetics as characterization methods. After printing and washing, most sodium or chloride counter-ions are last from the gel, leave only the polymer complex. The swelling properties of the printed and washed gel depend on the deposition rate and on the ratio of the two polymers as originally printed. The synthetic polyelectrolytes reported here can be compared with biological polyelectrolytes reported earlier by us.