A comparative study of two polyelectrolyte complexes

This study reports on the synthesis and characterization of interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) and polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) produced by ion-complex formation between natural and synthetic polymer bearing opposed charge. PEC of sodium alginate (NaAlg) and poly(acryloxyethyl-trimethylammonium chloride-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(Q-co-H)) were formed by addition of 2.0 wt % sodium alginate solution to 1.5 wt % poly(Q-co-H) solution, and by adding the poly(Q-co-H) solution to the NaAlg solution under magnetic agitation. The IPN were prepared using the sequential method with three different compositions, in which Q and H monomers were mixed in the 95/5 proportions in presence of NaAlg. The mixture was polymerized at 60°C using potassium persulfate as initiator. The characterizations of scaffolds were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012