Investigation on the aggregation behaviors of DDAB/NaDEHP catanionic vesicles in the absence and presence of a negatively charged polyelectrolyte

The aggregation behaviors of the cationic and anionic (catanionic) surfactant vesicles formed by didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB)/sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (NaDEHP) in the absence and presence of a negatively charged polyelectrolyte are investigated. The amount of the charge on the vesicle can be tuned by controlling the DDAB/NaDEHP surfactant molar ratio. The charged vesicular dispersions made of DDAB/NaDEHP are mixed with a negatively charged polyelectrolyte, poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) sodium (PSSAMA), to form complexes. Depending on the polyelectrolyte/vesicle charge ratio, complex flocculation or precipitation occurs. Characterization of the catanionic vesicles and the complexes are performed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Cryo-TEM, dynamic light scattering (DLS), conductivity, turbidity, zeta potential, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements.     

水溶性聚电解质—表面活性剂复合物的聚集行为

聚电解质在溶液中与相反电荷的表面活性剂通过解电作用与疏水作用可形成聚电解质－表面活性剂复合物，依据反应条件生成的复事物可以是水溶性也可以是非水溶性的。水溶性的聚电解质－表面活性剂复合物由于有许多工业应用，因此近几十上来水溶性聚电解质－表面活性剂复合物的形成和结构已爱到人们的广泛重视。本文对水溶性聚电解质－表面活性剂复合物的聚集过程、聚集结构作了简要概述，此外对荧光光谱在这一领域的应用进行了重点介绍     

Binding of oppositely charged surfactants to spherical polyelectrolyte brushes: a study by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy

The formation of a complex between an anionic spherical polyelectrolyte brush (SPB) and the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is investigated. The SPB consists of long chains of the strong polyelectrolyte poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), which are bound chemically to a solid poly(styrene) core of 56 nm in radius. The SPB are dispersed in water, and the ionic strength is adjusted by addition of NaBr. The resulting complexes are investigated in dilute solution by dynamic light scattering, by electrophoretic light scattering, and by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The formation of the complex between the SPB and the surfactant can be monitored by a strong shrinking of the surface layer when adding CTAB to dilute suspensions (0.01 wt %) and by a decrease of the effective charge of the complexes. Complex formation starts at CTAB concentrations lower than the critical micelle concentration of this surfactant. If the ratio r of the charges on the SPB to the charge of the added surfactant is exceeding unity, the particles start to flocculate. Cryo-TEM images of the complexes at r = 0.6 measured in salt-free solution show that the surface layer composed of the PSS chains and the adsorbed CTAB molecules is partially collapsed: A part of the chains form a dense surface layer while another part of the chains or aggregates thereof are still sticking out. This can be deduced from the cryo-TEM micrographs as well as from the hydrodynamic radius, which is still of appreciable magnitude. The 1:1 complex (r = 1.0) exhibits a fully collapsed layer formed by the PSS chains and CTAB. If the complex is formed in the presence of 0.05 M NaBr, r = 0.6 leads to globular structures directly attached to the surface of the core particles. All structures seen in the cryo-TEM images can be explained by a collapse transition of the surface layer brought about by the hydrophobic attraction between the polyelectrolyte chains that became partially hydrophobic through adsorption of CTAB.     

The Interaction between High-Molecular-Weight Flocculents and Ionic Surfactants

The interaction between the anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes of various molecular masses and charges and the ionic surfactants in aqueous and salt solutions is studied by viscometry, conductometry, light scattering, and electrophoresis. Oppositely charged molecules of surfactant and polymer form strong complexes due to the forces of electrostatic attraction that is manifested in a significant decrease in the viscosity and light transmission, as well as in the relative reduction in solution conductivity. As the surfactant/polyelectrolyte ratio increases, the forming complexes precipitated and then dissolved again. In the case of strongly charged polyelectrolytes, the partial dissolution of precipitates was observed preceding the wide region of destabilization. In this region, the value of surfactant/polyelectrolyte charge ratio reaches 3–4. The interaction between the cationic surfactants and anionic polyelectrolyte increases with the lengthening of alkyl radical, thus indicating the presence of cooperative interactions between the surfactant molecules bonded to polymer and the important role of relevant hydrophobic interactions. As a result, the interaction between the high-molecular-weight anionic polyelectrolytes and anionic surfactants containing aromatic core takes place in some cases.     

Water-soluble complexes between cationic surfactants and comb-type copolymers consisting of an anionic backbone and hydrophilic nonionic poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) side chains

The formation of complexes between the cationic surfactant dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and the comb-type anionic polyelectrolytes poly(sodium acrylate-co-sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate)-g-poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (P(NaA-co-NaAMPS)-g-PDMAMx) was investigated in dilute aqueous solutions by means of turbidimetry, pyrene fluorescence probing, viscometry, z-potential measurements, and dynamic light scattering. The comb-type copolymers consist of an anionic copolymer backbone, P(NaA-co-NaAMPS), containing 84 mol % NaAMPS units, while the weight percentage, x, of the PDMAM side chains varies from x = 12% (w:w) up to x = 58% (w:w). It was found that, contrary to the water-insoluble complexes formed between the linear polyelectrolyte P(NaA-co-NaAMPS) and DTAB, the solubility in water of the complexes formed between the comb-type copolymers and DTAB is significantly improved with increasing x. The complexation process starts at the same critical aggregation concentration (about 2 orders of magnitude lower than the critical micelle concentration of DTAB), regardless of x, and it is accompanied by charge neutralization and appearance of hydrophobic microdomains. Both effects lead to the substantial collapse of the polyelectrolyte chain upon addition of DTAB. However, the complexes of the comb-type copolymers with DTAB are stabilized in water as nanoparticles, and probably consisted of a water-insoluble core (the polyelectrolyte/surfactant complex), protected by a hydrophilic nonionic PDMAM corona. The size of the nanoparticles varies from approximately 35 nm up to approximately 120 nm, depending on x.     

Effect of polymer charge density and ionic strength on the formation of complexes between sodium arylamido-2-methyl-1-propane-sulfonate-co-acrylamide gels and cetylpyridinium chloride

The effects of sodium chloride on the composition and structure of polyelectrolyte gel-surfactant complexes (PSCs) formed by the sodium salt of acrylamide-2-methyl-1-propane-sulfonic acid-co-acrylamide gels and cetylpyridinium chloride have been studied. At a low ionic strength of the solution, the composition of all the complexes is close to stoichiometric by charge. In the presence of 0.3 M sodium chloride, the composition of the complexes formed by the gel with 99 mol % charged groups is close to stoichiometric, while for the gel with 33 mol % charged monomer units, a nonstoichiometric complex with a high excess of the surfactant is formed. Further decrease of the charge density up to 10 mol % leads to partial or complete dissociation of the PSCs. The study of PSCs by the method of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) shows that the complexes formed by the gels with high and intermediate charge densities are highly ordered. The decrease of the charge density of the swollen networks at first leads to a change in symmetry of the ordered domains in the PSCs and then to their disordering. The formation of nonstoichiometric PSCs at a high enough concentration of salt is explained by the effect of fitting, when the packing of the surfactant and polymer components in the PSCs is improved due to the inclusion of extra surfactant molecules together with their counterions in the ordered domains.     

Absorption of ionic amphiphils by oppositely charged polyelectrolyte gels

Slightly cross-linked polyelectrolytes absorb oppositely charged surfactants in aqueous media. Transfer of amphiphilic ions from solution into the swollen network proceeds as a frontal heterogeneous cooperative reaction causing a collapse of the original polyelectrolyte gel. Small and wide angle X-ray diffraction data show that electrostatic complex formed as a result of the reaction consists of lamellar type surfactant micelles embedded in a polyelectrolyte network. It is also shown that such complexes contain equimolar amount of surfactant ions and ionized polyelectrolyte units paired with amphiphil head groups. In other words a charged network is not able to bind surplus oppositely charged surfactant ions. However, it is still able to solubilize a substantial amount of a nonionized surfactant. Chemical structure of surfactants strongly affect internal structure of lamellae and stability of the complexes.     

Polyelectrolyte-induced peeling of charged multilamellar vesicles

We study mixtures of charged surfactants, which alone in solution form uni- and multilamellar vesicles, and oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PEs). The phase behavior is investigated at fixed surfactant concentration as a function of the PE-to-surfactant charge ratio, x. We find that, for x > 0, aggregates form. Light microscopy and X-ray scattering experiments show that the isoelectric point plays a crucial role, since the morphology and the microscopic structure of the aggregates are different before (x < or = 1) and after the isoelectric point (x > 1). To better understand the dynamics for the formation of PE/surfactant complexes, we perform light microscopy experiments where we follow in real time the effect of a PE solution on one multilamellar vesicle (MLV). We find that the PE induces a peeling of the bilayers of the MLV one by one. The peeling is accompanied by strong shape fluctuations of the MLV and leads ultimately to a pile of small aggregates. This novel phenomenon is analyzed in detail and discussed in terms of PE-induced tension and pore formation and growth in a surfactant bilayer.     

Hydrodynamic size and charge of polyelectrolyte complexes

Polyelectrolyte complexes have a wide range of applications for surface modification and flocculation and sorption of organic molecules from solutions. As an example, complexes between poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) and poly(styrene sulfonate) have been investigated by diffusion and electrophoresis NMR. The formation of primary or soluble complexes is monitored. The hydrodynamic size is characterized by the hydrodynamic radius, calculated from the diffusion coefficient determined by pulsed field gradient NMR. In the combination with electrophoresis NMR, the effective charge of the molecules and complexes is determined. The hydrodynamic size of the primary complex is smaller than that of the pure polyelectrolyte of the larger molecular weight, in the present case poly(styrene sulfonate), in solution, since charges are compensated by the oppositely charged polyelectrolyte and hence the repelling forces diminish. The effective charge of the complexes is drastically reduced.     

Evolution in the supramolecular complexes between poly(phenylene ethynylene)-based polyelectrolytes and octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide as revealed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Poly(phenyleneethynylene)-based conjugated polyelectrolytes (PPE-SO(3)(-)) are a class of polyions with rigid backbones. This work uses fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to study how the diffusion of complexes, formed between a PPE-SO(3)(-) polyelectrolyte and octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTAB) surfactant molecules, changes with OTAB concentration below its critical micelle concentration. The dependence of the hydrodynamic radius of the complexes on the OTAB concentration has three regimes. In the low concentration regime ( C(OTAB)/ C(monomer) < 6), the complex has a size comparable to that of the polymer in deionized water. In the intermediate concentration regime (6 < C(OTAB)/ C(monomer) < 400), the complexes have the largest size and substantial heterogeneity. In the high concentration regime (400 < C(OTAB)/ C(monomer) < 1800), the complexes have a size that is about three times larger than that in the low concentration regime. These results elucidate features of the self-assembly of a polyelectrolyte and an ionic surfactant and show that the C(OTAB)/ C(monomer) concentration ratio controls the composition of polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes.     

Formation of hybrid wormlike micelles upon mixing cetyl trimethylammonium bromide with poly(methyl methacrylate-co-sodium styrene sulfonate) copolymers in aqueous solution

The association of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB, with a series of P(MMAx-co-SSNa) random copolymers of sodium styrene sulfonate (SSNa) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) was explored in aqueous solution as a function of the MMA molar content, x, of the copolymers. The polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexation in aqueous solution was verified through pyrene fluorescence probing. In addition, turbidimetry studies in dilute or more concentrated aqueous solutions elucidated the phase separation behavior of the P(MMAx-co-SSNa)/CTAB systems as a function of the copolymer composition x and the surfactant to polyelectrolyte mixing charge ratio. It is found that practically phase separation is completely suppressed within the studied mixing range when the MMA content of the copolymers is ～30-40 mol%. For lower MMA contents the polyelectrolyte/surfactant complex separates out from water, while for higher x values the solubility limits of the copolymers in water are attained. For the intermediate MMA contents, viscoelastic systems are obtained in more concentrated polymer/surfactant solutions provided that the polyelectrolyte is fully complexed with the cationic surfactant ((1)H NMR results). Moreover, the (1)H NMR studies indicate that hybrid P(MMAx-co-SSNa)/CTAB wormlike micelles are formed in water under these conditions. Finally, it is shown that addition of salt prevents syneresis problems and facilitates the rheological investigation.     

Polymer colloids formed by polyelectrolyte complexation of vinyl polymers and polysaccharides in aqueous solution

The polyelectrolyte complex formed from the polyanion and polycation was studied by turbidimetry, static and electrophoretic light scattering, and elementary analysis. Sodium salts of polyacrylate (PA) and heparin (Hep) were chosen as the polyanion, and hydrochloric salts of poly(vinyl amine) (PVA) and chitosan (Chts) as the polycation. Although these vinyl polymers and polysaccharides have remarkably different backbone chemical structures and linear charge densities, all the four combinations PA-PVA, PA-Chts, Hep-PVA, and Hep-Chts provide almost stoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes which are slightly charged owing to the adsorption of the excess polyelectrolyte component onto the neutral complex. The charges stabilize the complex colloids in aqueous solution of a non-stoichiometric mixture, and the aggregation number of the complex colloids increases with approaching to the stoichiometric mixing ratio. The mixing ratio dependence of the aggregation number for the four complexes is explained by the model proposed in the previous study.     

Interactions of polyelectrolyte brushes with oppositely charged surfactants

Using Brownian dynamics simulations, we study the effect of the charge ratio, the surfactant length, and the grafting density on the conformational behavior of the complex formed by the polyelectrolyte brush with oppositely charged surfactants. In our simulations, the polyelectrolyte chains and surfactants are represented by a coarse-grained bead-spring model, and the solvent is treated implicitly. It is found that varying the charge ratio induces different morphologies of surfactant aggregates adsorbed onto the brush. At high charge ratios, the density profiles of surfactant monomers indicate that surfactant aggregates exhibit a layer-by-layer arrangement. The surfactant length has a strong effect on the adsorption behavior of surfactants. The lengthening of surfactant leads to a collapsed brush configuration, but a reswelling of the brush with further increasing the surfactant length is observed. The collapse of the brush is attributed to the enhancement of surfactants binding to polyelectrolyte chains. The reswelling is due to an increase in the volume of adsorbed surfactant aggregates. At the largest grafting density investigated, enhanced excluded volume interactions limit the adsorption of surfactant within the polyelectrolyte brush. We also find that end monomers in polyelectrolyte chains exhibit a bimodal distribution in cases of large surfactant lengths and high charge ratios.     

Characterization and Aggregation Behaviors of Mixed DDAB/SDS Solution With and Without Poly(4-styrenesulfonic Acid-Co-Maleic Acid) Sodium

Synthetic vesicles are formed by cationic and anionic surfactants, didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). The morphology, size, and aqueous properties of cationic/anionic mixtures are investigated at various molar ratios between cationic and anionic surfactants. The charged vesicular dispersions made of DDAB/SDS are contacted or mixed with negatively charged polyelectrolyte, poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) sodium (PSSAMA), to form complexes. Depending on DDAB/SDS molar ratio or PSSAMA/vesicle charge ratio, complexes flocculation or precipitation occur. Characterization of the cationic/anionic vesicles or complexes formed by the catanionic vesicles and polyelectrolytes is performed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), conductivity, turbidity, and zeta potential measurements. The size, stability, and the surface charge on the mixed cationic/anionic vesicles or complexes are determined.     

Light-scattering study of polyelectrolyte complexes: Heparin with partially aminoacetalized poly(vinyl alcohol) in aqueous solution

The structure of soluble polyelectrolyte complexes composed of heparin (Hep) and partially aminoacetalized poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAA) in aqueous solution was investigated by light scattering. The pH was fixed at 3.2 while the ionic strength and mixing ratio were varied. At high ionic strength (0.5), polyelectrolyte complexes were not formed owing to the screening effect of simple salts on polyion charges. At low ionic strength (0.005), polyelectrolyte complexes formed were stable and dispersed when either the polycation or the polyanion was in great excess, whereas the complexes became unstable and coagulated when the concentrations of polycation and polyanion approached each other. At intermediate ionic strength (0.1), when PVAA was in excess, complex formation was similar to that at low ionic strength (0.005); but with an excess of Hep, polyelectrolyte complexes with similar structure (i.e., roughly spherical with average diameters about 2,700 Å) were formed over a wide range of mixing ratio. This observation is of interest in connection with the physiological activity of Hep in vivo.     

Electrostatic self-assembly of neutral and polyelectrolyte block copolymers and oppositely charged surfactant

We investigated the phase behavior and the microscopic structure of the colloidal complexes constituted from neutral/polyelectrolyte diblock copolymers and oppositely charged surfactant by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The neutral block is poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), and the polyelectrolyte block is negatively charged poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). In aqueous solution with neutral pH, PAA behaves as a weak polyelectrolyte, whereas PNIPAM is neutral and in good-solvent condition at ambient temperature, but in poor-solvent condition above approximately 32 degrees C. This block copolymer, PNIPAM-b-PAA with a narrow polydispersity, is studied in aqueous solution with an anionic surfactant, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). For a low surfactant-to-polymer charge ratio Z lower than the critical value ZC, the colloidal complexes are single DTAB micelles dressed by a few PNIPAM-b-PAA. Above ZC, the colloidal complexes form a core-shell microstructure. The core of the complex consists of densely packed DTA+ micelles, most likely connected between them by PAA blocks. The intermicellar distance of the DTA+ micelles is approximately 39 A, which is independent of the charge ratio Z as well as the temperature. The corona of the complex is constituted from the thermosensitive PNIPAM. At lower temperature the macroscopic phase separation is hindered by the swollen PNIPAM chains. Above the critical temperature TC, the PNIPAM corona collapses leading to hydrophobic aggregates of the colloidal complexes.     

Complexes of polyelectrolyte-neutral double hydrophilic block copolymers with oppositely charged surfactant and polyelectrolyte

Complexes between sodium (sulfamate-carboxylate)isoprene/ethylene oxide double hydrophilic diblock copolymers (SCIEO) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTMAB), as well as quaternized poly(2-vinylpyridine) (QP2VP), were studied in aqueous solutions, at pH 7. The complexes are formed due to electrostatic interactions between the anionic groups of the polyelectrolyte block of the copolymers and the cationic groups of the surfactant or the homopolyelectrolyte. The structure of the complexes was investigated as a function of the mixing ratio of the two components in solution and ionic strength by static, dynamic, and electrophoretic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The mass and size of the complexes depend on the mixing ratio between the components. A transition from intrachain to an interchain association was observed for block copolymer/ surfactant complexes. SCIEO/QP2VP complexes were found to respond to increasing concentrations of added salt. Spherical and ellipsoid shaped complexes with a core-shell micellar like structure were formed in the systems studied.     

Co-adsorption of carboxymethyl-cellulose and cationic surfactants at the air-water interface

We investigated the interaction between an anionic polyelectrolyte (carboxymethylcellulose) and cationic surfactants (DTAB, TTAB, and CTAB) at the air/water interface, using surface tension, ellipsometry, and Brewster angle microscopy techniques. At low surfactant concentration, a synergistic phenomenon is observed due to the co-adsorption of polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes at the interface, which decreases the surface tension. When the surfactant critical aggregation concentration (cac) is reached, the adsorption saturates and the thickness of the adsorbed monolayer remains constant until another characteristic surfactant concentration, C0, is reached, at which all the polymer charges are bound to surfactant in bulk. Above C0, the absorbed monolayer becomes much thicker, suggesting adsorption of bulk aggregates, which have become more hydrophobic due to charge neutralization.     

Coadsorption and surface forces for selective surfaces in contact with aqueous mixtures of oppositely charged surfactants and low charge density polyelectrolytes

The coadsorption of a positively charged polyelectrolyte (with 10% of the segments carrying a permanent positive charge, AM-MAPTAC-10) and an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) on silica and glass surfaces has been investigated using optical reflectometry and a noninterferometric surface force technique. This is a selective coadsorption system in the sense that the polyelectrolyte does adsorb to the surface in the absence of surfactant, whereas the surfactant does not adsorb in the absence ofpolyelectrolyte. It is found that the total adsorbed amount goes through a maximum when the SDS concentration is increased. Maximum adsorption is found when the polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes formed in bulk solution are close to the charge neutralization point. Some adsorption does occur also when SDS is present in significant excess. The force measured between AM-MAPTAC-10-coated surfaces on approach in the absence of SDS is dominated at long range by an electrostatic double-layer force. Yet, layers formed by coadsorption from solutions containing both polyelectrolyte and surfactant generate long-range forces of an electrosteric nature. On separation, adhesive interactions are found only when the adsorbed amount is low, i.e., in the absence of SDS and in a large excess of SDS. The final state of the adsorbed layer is found to be nonhysteretic, i.e., independent of the history of the system. The conditions for formation of long-lived trapped adsorption states from mixed polymer-surfactant solutions are discussed.     

DNA and surfactants in bulk and at interfaces

Recent investigations of the DNA interactions with cationic surfactants and catanionic mixtures are reviewed. Several techniques have been used such as fluorescence microscopy, dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, and Monte Carlo simulations.

The conformational behaviour of large DNA molecules in the presence of cationic surfactant was followed by fluorescence microscopy and also by dynamic light scattering. These techniques were in good agreement and it was possible to observe a discrete transition from extended coils to collapsed globules and their coexistence for intermediate amphiphile concentrations. The dependence on the surfactant alkyl chain was also monitored by fluorescence microscopy and, as expected, lower concentrations of the more hydrophobic surfactant were required to induce DNA compaction, although an excess of positive charges was still required.

Monte Carlo simulations on the compaction of a medium size polyanion with shorter polycations were performed. The polyanion chain suffers a sudden collapse as a function of the concentration of condensing agent, and of the number of charges on the polycation molecules. Further increase in the concentration increases the degree of compaction. The compaction was found to be associated with the polycations promoting bridging between different sites of the polyanion. When the total charge of the polycations was lower than that of the polyanion, a significant translational motion of the compacting agent along the polyanion was observed, producing only a small-degree of intrachain segregation, which can explain the excess of positive charges necessary to compact DNA.

Dissociation of the DNA–cationic surfactant complexes and a concomitant release of DNA was achieved by addition of anionic surfactants. The unfolding of DNA molecules, previously compacted with cationic surfactant, was shown to be strongly dependent on the anionic surfactant chain length; lower amounts of a longer chain surfactant were needed to release DNA into solution. On the other hand, no dependence on the hydrophobicity of the compacting agent was observed. The structures of the aggregates formed by the two surfactants, after the interaction with DNA, were imaged by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. It is possible to predict the structure of the aggregates formed by the surfactants, like vesicles, from the phase behaviour of the mixed surfactant systems.

Studies on the interactions between DNA and catanionic mixtures were also performed. It was observed that DNA does not interact with negatively charged vesicles, even though they carry positive amphiphiles; however, in the presence of positively charged vesicles, DNA molecules compact and adsorb on their surface.

Finally Monte Carlo simulations were performed on the adsorption of a polyelectrolyte on catanionic surfaces. It was observed that the mobile charges in the surface react to the presence of the polyelectrolyte enabling a strong degree of adsorption even though the membrane was globally neutral. Our observations indicate that the adsorption behaviour of the polyelectrolyte is influenced by the response given by the membrane to its presence and that the number of adsorbed beads increases drastically with the increase of flexibility of the polymer. Calculations involving polymers with three different intrinsic stiffnesses showed that the variation is non-monotonic. It was observed also that a smaller polyanion typically adsorbs more completely than the larger one, which indicates that the polarisation of the membrane becomes less facilitated as the degree of disruption increases.