Multilayer films of organic compounds on solid surfaces have been studied for more than 60 years because they allow fabrication of multicomposite molecular assemblies of tailored architecture. However, both the Langmuir-Blodgett technique and chemisorption from solution can be used only with certain classes of molecules. An alternative approach—fabrication of multilayers by consecutive adsorption of polyanions and polycations—is far more general and has been extended to other materials such as proteins or colloids. Because polymers are typically flexible molecules, the resulting superlattice architectures are somewhat fuzzy structures, but the absence of crystallinity in these films is expected to be beneficial for many potential applications.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/277/5330/1232.full.pdf

Fuzzy Nanoassemblies: Toward Layered Polymeric Multicomposites

Chitin and chitosan: Properties and applications

New polymer synthesis by nitroxide mediated living radical polymerizations.

As we enter the twenty-first century, research at the interface of polymer chemistry and the biomedical sciences has given rise to the first nano-sized (5-100 nm) polymer-based pharmaceuticals, the 'polymer therapeutics'. Polymer therapeutics include rationally designed macromolecular drugs, polymer-drug and polymer-protein conjugates, polymeric micelles containing covalently bound drug, and polyplexes for DNA delivery. The successful clinical application of polymer-protein conjugates, and promising clinical results arising from trials with polymer-anticancer-drug conjugates, bode well for the future design and development of the ever more sophisticated bio-nanotechnologies that are needed to realize the full potential of the post-genomic age.

The dawning era of polymer therapeutics

http://www.mtdna.or.kr/neowiz/board/up_files/files_17/Chitin_Chitosan_polymers_chemistrySolubilityFiberFormation.pdf

Chitin and chitosan polymers: Chemistry, solubility and fiber formation

Polyelectrolyte complexes — recent developments and open problems

Polyelectrolyte complex formation between components with strong ionic groups and high molecular weights were studied by static light scattering as a function of the mixing ratio and the ionic strength of the medium. Sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) and sodium poly(methacrylate) were used as polyanions and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and its copolymer with acrylamide were used as polycations. Very small amounts of sodium chloride lead to a drastic decrease of the level of aggregation, while higher ionic strength results in macroscopic flocculation.

Herbert Dautzenberg

Papers

Polyelectrolyte complexes — recent developments and open problems

Polyelectrolyte Complex Formation in Highly Aggregating Systems. 1. Effect of Salt: Polyelectrolyte Complex Formation in the Presence of NaCl

Polyelectrolytes : formation, characterization, and application

Polyelectrolyte complexes and layer-by-layer capsules from chitosan/chitosan sulfate.

The degree of acetylation of chitosans and its effect on the chain conformation in aqueous solution