Complex Coacervate Core Micelles Containing Poly(vinyl alcohol) Inhibit Ice Recrystallization

Christian C M Sproncken; Romà Surís-Valls; Hande E Cingil; Christophe Detrembleur; Ilja K Voets

doi:10.1002/marc.201700814

Complex Coacervate Core Micelles Containing Poly(vinyl alcohol) Inhibit Ice Recrystallization

Macromol Rapid Commun. 2018 Sep;39(17):e1700814. doi: 10.1002/marc.201700814. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

Authors

Christian C M Sproncken^{1

2}, Romà Surís-Valls^{1

3}, Hande E Cingil^{1

3}, Christophe Detrembleur⁴, Ilja K Voets^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Post Office Box 513, 5600, MD, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
² Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Post Office Box 513, 5600, MD, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
³ Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Post Office Box 513, 5600, MD, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
⁴ Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules, CESAM Research Unit, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman B6a, B-4000, Liège, Belgium.

PMID: 29635766
DOI: 10.1002/marc.201700814

Abstract

Complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms) form upon complexation of oppositely charged copolymers. These co-assembled structures are widely investigated as promising building blocks for encapsulation, nanoparticle synthesis, multimodal imaging, and coating technology. Here, the impact on ice growth is investigated of C3Ms containing poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, which is well known for its high ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity. The PVA-based C3Ms are prepared upon co-assembly of poly(4-vinyl-N-methyl-pyridinium iodide) and poly(vinyl alcohol)-block-poly(acrylic acid). Their formation conditions, size, and performance as ice recrystallization inhibitors are studied. It is found that the C3Ms exhibit IRI activity at PVA monomer concentrations as low as 1 × 10^-3 m. The IRI efficacy of PVA-C3Ms is similar to that of linear PVA and PVA graft polymers, underlining the influence of vinyl alcohol monomer concentration rather than polymer architecture.

Keywords: bio-inspired functional materials; ice recrystallization inhibition; micelles; poly(vinyl alcohol); polyelectrolytes.

MeSH terms

Crystallization
Ice*
Micelles
Particle Size
Polyvinyl Alcohol / chemistry*

Substances

Ice
Micelles
Polyvinyl Alcohol

Abstract

MeSH terms

Substances

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