Ionically Paired Layer-by-Layer Hydrogels: Water and Polyelectrolyte Uptake Controlled by Deposition Time.

ABSTRACT: Despite intense recent interest in weakly bound nonlinear ("exponential") multilayers, the underlying structure-property relationships of these films are still poorly understood. This study explores the effect of time used for deposition of individual layers of nonlinearly growing layer-by-layer (LbL) films composed of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and quaternized poly-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (QPC) on film internal structure, swelling, and stability in salt solution, as well as the rate of penetration of invading polyelectrolyte chains. Thicknesses of dry and swollen films were measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry, film internal structure-by neutron reflectometry (NR), and degree of PMAA ionization-by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results suggest that lo

SUBMITTER: Selin V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6321383 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature