Adv Polym Sci (2014) 256: 197–260
DOI: 10.1007/12_2012_170
# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012
Published online: 21 July 2013
Sizing, Shaping and Pharmaceutical
Applications of Polyelectrolyte Complex
Nanoparticles
M. M€ uller
Abstract This contribution reviews polyelectrolyte (PEL) complex (PEC)
nanoparticles prepared by mixing solutions of oppositely charged PELs, with
special focus on the regulation of their size and shape by PEL structural and
media parameters and on their pharmaceutical applications. Experimental and
simulation evidence indicates that salt and PEL concentration, pH, mixing ratio
and order, PEL molecular weight and topology are useful parameters for regulation
of the size and internal structure of spherical PEC nanoparticles. Experimental and
theoretical data are presented to show that PEL flexibility and stiffness are able to
influence and even control PEC nanoparticle shape. Finally, the options,
advantages, and challenges of dispersed PEC particles for pharmaceutical
applications are outlined, emphasizing the uptake and release properties towards
proteins and drugs and the interaction of these nanoparticles with cells.
Keywords Coacervate Á Nanoparticles Á Polyelectrolyte cell interaction Á
Polyelectrolyte complexes Á Polyelectrolyte drug interaction
Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
2 PEC Characterization and Preparation: Critical Experimental Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
2.1 Characterization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
2.2 Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
M. M€ uller (*)
Department of Polyelectrolytes and Dispersions, Leibniz-Institut f€ ur Polymerforschung (IPF)
Dresden e.V., Hohe Strasse 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany
Fachrichtung Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, Technische Universit€ at Dresden (TUD), 01062
Dresden, Germany
e-mail: mamuller@ipfdd.de
DOI: 10.1007/12_2012_170
# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012
Published online: 21 July 2013
Sizing, Shaping and Pharmaceutical
Applications of Polyelectrolyte Complex
Nanoparticles
M. M€ uller
Abstract This contribution reviews polyelectrolyte (PEL) complex (PEC)
nanoparticles prepared by mixing solutions of oppositely charged PELs, with
special focus on the regulation of their size and shape by PEL structural and
media parameters and on their pharmaceutical applications. Experimental and
simulation evidence indicates that salt and PEL concentration, pH, mixing ratio
and order, PEL molecular weight and topology are useful parameters for regulation
of the size and internal structure of spherical PEC nanoparticles. Experimental and
theoretical data are presented to show that PEL flexibility and stiffness are able to
influence and even control PEC nanoparticle shape. Finally, the options,
advantages, and challenges of dispersed PEC particles for pharmaceutical
applications are outlined, emphasizing the uptake and release properties towards
proteins and drugs and the interaction of these nanoparticles with cells.
Keywords Coacervate Á Nanoparticles Á Polyelectrolyte cell interaction Á
Polyelectrolyte complexes Á Polyelectrolyte drug interaction
Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
2 PEC Characterization and Preparation: Critical Experimental Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
2.1 Characterization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
2.2 Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
M. M€ uller (*)
Department of Polyelectrolytes and Dispersions, Leibniz-Institut f€ ur Polymerforschung (IPF)
Dresden e.V., Hohe Strasse 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany
Fachrichtung Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, Technische Universit€ at Dresden (TUD), 01062
Dresden, Germany
e-mail: mamuller@ipfdd.de