Self-Assembly of Miktoarm Star Polyelectrolytes in Solutions with Various Ionic Strengths.

ABSTRACT: We studied the self-assembly of miktoarm star polyelectrolytes with different numbers of arms in solutions with various ionic strengths using coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations. Spherical micelles are obtained for star polyelectrolytes with fewer arms, whereas wormlike clusters are obtained for star polyelectrolytes with more arms at a low ionic strength environment, with hydrophilic arms showing a stretched conformation. The number of clusters shows an overall decreasing tendency with increasing the number of arms in star polyelectrolytes due to strong electrostatic coupling between polycations and polyanions. The formation of wormlike clusters follows an overall stepwise pathway with an intermittent association-dissociation process for star polyelectrolytes with weak electrosta

SUBMITTER: Li B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9219065 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature