Feasibility study for the rapid screening of target molecules using translational diffusion coefficients: diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy of biological toxins

A panel of 15 biological toxins ranging between ~60–28,000 g/mol was used to evaluate the feasibility of screening aqueous samples for toxin analytes based on their translational diffusion coefficients, D _t. Toxin D _t values were measured by pulsed-field gradient ¹H NMR spectroscopy using a bipolar pulse pair, longitudinal eddy current delay pulse sequence incorporating water suppression to achieve the maximum dynamic range for toxin signals. To collect data for an effective screening protocol, reference D _t values were determined from five independent measurements at both 25 and 37 °C for all toxins in the panel. In the protocol, D _t values are measured at both temperatures for a suspected toxin target in a sample, and for assignment as a potential toxin analyte, the measurements are required to fall within ±0.25 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s of both reference D _t values for at least one toxin in the panel. Only solution viscosity was found to influence sample D _t measurements appreciably; however, the measurements are easily corrected for viscosity effects by calculating the D _t value of the suspected toxin at infinite dilution. In conclusion, the protocol provides a rapid and effective means for screening aqueous samples for all toxins in the panel, narrowing toxin identification to ≤2 possibilities in virtually all cases.     

Thermodynamic Investigation of Phase Equilibria in Metal Carbonate–Water–Carbon Dioxide Systems

 Solubility measurements as a function of temperature have been shown to be a powerful tool for the determination of thermodynamic properties of sparingly-soluble transition metal carbonates. In contrast to calorimetric methods, such as solution calorimetry or drop calorimetry, the evaluation of solubility data avoids many systematic errors, yielding the enthalpy of solution at 298.15 K with an estimated uncertainty of ±3 kJ · mol⁻¹. A comprehensive set of thermodynamic data for otavite (CdCO₃), smithsonite (ZnCO₃), hydrozincite (Zn₅(OH)₆(CO₃)₂), malachite (Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃), azurite (Cu₃(OH)₂(CO₃)₂), and siderite (FeCO₃) was derived. Literature values for the standard enthalpy of formation of malachite and azurite were disproved by these solubility experiments, and revised values are recommended. In the case of siderite, data for the standard enthalpy of formation given by various data bases deviate from each other by more than 10 kJ · mol⁻¹ which can be attributed to a discrepancy in the auxiliary data for the Fe²⁺ ion. A critical evaluation of solubility data from various literature sources results in an optimized value for the standard enthalpy of formation for siderite. The Davies approximation, the specific ion-interaction theory, and the Pitzer concept are used for the extrapolation of the solubility constants to zero ionic strength in order to obtain standard thermodynamic properties valid at infinite dilution, T = 298.15 K, and p = 10⁵ Pa. The application of these electrolyte models to both homogeneous and heterogeneous (solid-solute) equilibria in aqueous solution is reviewed.     

Diffusion Coefficients for Binary, Ternary, and Polydisperse Solutions from Peak-Width Analysis of Taylor Dispersion Profiles

Binary mutual diffusion coefficients D can be estimated from the width at half height W _1/2 of Taylor dispersion profiles using D=(ln 2)r ² t _R/(3W ² h) and values of the retention time t _R and dispersion tube radius r. The generalized expression D _h=−(ln h)r ² t _R/(3W ² _h ) is derived to evaluate diffusion coefficients from peak widths W _h measured at other fractional heights (e.g., (h = 0.1, 0.2,…,0.9). Tests show that averaging the D _h values from binary profiles gives mutual diffusion coefficients that are as accurate and precise as those obtained by more elaborate nonlinear least-squares analysis. Dispersion profiles for ternary solutions usually consist of two superimposed pseudo-binary profiles. Consequently, D _h values for ternary profiles generally vary with the fractional peak height h. Ternary profiles with constant D _h values can however be constructed by taking appropriate linear combinations of profiles generated using different initial concentration differences. The invariant D _h values and corresponding initial concentration differences give the eigenvalues and eigenvectors for the evaluation of the ternary diffusion coefficient matrix. Dispersion profiles for polymer samples of N i-mers consist of N superimposed pseudo-binary profiles. The edges of these profiles are enriched in the heavier polymers owing to the decrease in polymer diffusion coefficients with increasing polymer molecular weight. The resulting drop in D _h with decreasing fractional peak height provides a signature of the polymer molecular weight distribution. These features are illustrated by measuring the dispersion of mixed polyethylene glycols.     

Thermodynamic Investigation of Phase Equilibria in Metal Carbonate–Water–Carbon Dioxide Systems

Summary.  Solubility measurements as a function of temperature have been shown to be a powerful tool for the determination of thermodynamic properties of sparingly-soluble transition metal carbonates. In contrast to calorimetric methods, such as solution calorimetry or drop calorimetry, the evaluation of solubility data avoids many systematic errors, yielding the enthalpy of solution at 298.15 K with an estimated uncertainty of ±3 kJ · mol⁻¹. A comprehensive set of thermodynamic data for otavite (CdCO₃), smithsonite (ZnCO₃), hydrozincite (Zn₅(OH)₆(CO₃)₂), malachite (Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃), azurite (Cu₃(OH)₂(CO₃)₂), and siderite (FeCO₃) was derived. Literature values for the standard enthalpy of formation of malachite and azurite were disproved by these solubility experiments, and revised values are recommended. In the case of siderite, data for the standard enthalpy of formation given by various data bases deviate from each other by more than 10 kJ · mol⁻¹ which can be attributed to a discrepancy in the auxiliary data for the Fe²⁺ ion. A critical evaluation of solubility data from various literature sources results in an optimized value for the standard enthalpy of formation for siderite. The Davies approximation, the specific ion-interaction theory, and the Pitzer concept are used for the extrapolation of the solubility constants to zero ionic strength in order to obtain standard thermodynamic properties valid at infinite dilution, T = 298.15 K, and p = 10⁵ Pa. The application of these electrolyte models to both homogeneous and heterogeneous (solid-solute) equilibria in aqueous solution is reviewed. Received June 26, 2001. Accepted July 2, 2001     

A new Gaussian adsorption isotherm model: test data is methane-5A zeolite

An adsorption isotherm model is deduced based on the Gaussian cumulative frequency distribution principles. This isotherm has three parameters: q _max, the 50% adsorbate loading pressure P ₅₀, and the standard deviation σ. The isotherm development hinges on establishing P ₅₀ and σ. These are deduced from a log plot of the isotherm pressure P versus the inverse Gaussian cumulative frequency distribution plot. The slope of this plot is σ and the y-intercept is P ₅₀. The temperature dependency of P ₅₀ is deduced from a plot of log P ₅₀ versus 1/T: this is actually the isosteric plot at 50% loading with slope equal to the heat of adsorption at 50% loading.     

High-Pressure Densities and Derived Volumetric Properties (Excess,Apparent and Partial Molar Volumes) of Binary Mixtures of Methanol + [BMIM][PF<Subscript>6</Subscript>]

The density of five (0.02297, 0.08317, 0.26147, 0.49343, 0.75255 mole fraction BMIMPF₆) binary methanol + BMIMPF₆ (1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophospate) mixtures have been measured with a vibrating-tube densimeter. Measurements were performed at temperatures from 298 to 398 K and at pressures up to 40 MPa. The total uncertainties of the density, temperature, pressure, and concentration (mole fractions) measurements were estimated to be less than 0.1 kg⋅m⁻³, 15 mK, 5 kPa, and 10⁻⁴, respectively. The uncertainties reported in this paper are expanded uncertainties at the 95% confidence level with a coverage factor of k=2. The measured densities were used to study of the effect of temperature, pressure, and concentration on the derived volumetric properties such as excess, apparent and partial molar volumes. It is shown that the values of excess molar volume for methanol + BMIMPF₆ mixtures are negative at all measured temperatures and pressures in the whole concentration range. The measured densities were used to develop Tait-type equations of state for pure components and the mixtures. The structural properties such as direct and total correlation function integrals were calculated using the derived partial molar volumes at infinite dilution.     

Estimating optimal time for fast chromatographic separations

The term t_{min cc} provides a ready estimate of the shortest time that can be obtained by “column cutting” for baseline resolution of two components showing excess chromatographic resolution. While actual column cutting is impractical, the t_{min cc} value is shown to be closely related to the minimum separation time obtainable by adjusting other parameters such as flow rate, mobile phase composition, and temperature, affording scientists interested in the development of fast chromatographic separations a convenient tool for estimating the minimum separation time that can be obtained by modifying a given method development screening result. Furthermore, the relationship between t_{min cc} and the minimum separation time obtainable by adjusting other parameters is shown to be dependent on the speed of the screening method, with aggressive screening gradients affording t_{min cc} estimates that match the actual minimum separation time, and “lazy” screening gradients affording t_{min cc} values that overestimate minimum separation time. Consequently, the analysis of the relationship between t_{min cc} and actual minimum separation time may be a useful tool for determining the “fitness” of method development screening methods.     

Excess Molar Volumes,Viscosities and Speeds of Sound of the Ternary Mixture 1-Heptanol (1) + Tetrachloroethylene (2) + Methylcyclohexane (3) at 298.15 K

Densities (ρ), viscosities (η) and speeds of sound (u) of the ternary mixture (1-heptanol + tetrachloroethylene + methylcyclohexane) and the corresponding binary mixtures (1-heptanol + tetrachloroethylene), (1-heptanol + methylcyclohexane) and (tetrachloroethylene + methylcyclohexane) at 298.15 K were measured over the whole composition range. The data obtained are used to calculate the excess molar volumes (V ^E), excess isobaric thermal expansivities (α ^E), viscosity deviations (Δη), excess Gibbs energies of activation of viscous flow (ΔG ^*E) and excess isentropic compressibilities (κ _S ^E) of the binary and ternary mixtures. The data from the binary systems were fitted by the Redlich–Kister equation whereas the best correlation method for the ternary system was found using the Nagata equation. Viscosities, speeds of sound and isentropic compressibilities of the binary and ternary mixtures have been correlated by means of several empirical and semi-empirical equations. The best correlation method for viscosities of binary systems is found using the Iulan et al. equation and for the ternary system using the Heric and McAllister equations. The best correlation method for the speeds of sound and isentropic compressibilities of the binary system (1-heptanol + methylcyclohexane) is found using IMR (Van Deal ideal mixing relation) and for the binary system (tetrachloroethylene + methylcyclohexane) it is found using the NR (Nomoto relation) and for the binary system (1-heptanol + tetrachloroethylene) and the ternary system (1-heptanol + trichloroethylene + methylcyclohexane) it is obtained from the FLT (Jacobson free length theory).     

Fast dynamic wetting of polymer surfaces by miscible and immiscible liquids

The initial stages of spontaneous spreading of a solvent drop (toluene) on the surface of a soluble polymer (polystyrene) have been studied with a high-speed camera. For drops of 1–4 μL volume, the increase in contact radius r can be described by a power law r μ t^a r \propto {t^{\alpha }} , with the spreading exponent α = 0.50 and for the first ≈8 ms. Thereafter, the three-phase contact line was pinned leading to a macroscopic static contact angle of Θ₀ = 12–15°. The insoluble liquids ethanol (α = 0.47, Θ₀ = 0) and water (α = 0.35, Θ₀ = 90°) showed a slower spreading. We attribute the fast spreading of toluene to the strong interaction with the polymer, like in reactive wetting. The finite macroscopic contact angle indicates the formation of a ridge by softening of polystyrene due to permeated toluene and the subsequent plastic deformation by the surface tension of the liquid. This interpretation is supported by experiments on polymers grafted from a silicon wafer. Toluene completely wets polymer brush surfaces. Transport of toluene through the vapor phase plays a significant role.     

Pyrene fluorescence measurements of metastable oil droplets in surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsions

 The fluorescence behavior of pyrene in oil droplets of a surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsion was studied for benzene, fluorobenzene, n-hexane and cyclohexane droplets in water. The excimer–monomer fluorescence ratio immediately after sonication, I _E/I _M(0), of the benzene/water emulsion was 8–10 times larger than for the benzene solution. The ratio I _E/I _M(t) increased in the first 10–20 min before it decreased to zero. Similar behavior was observed for the fluorobenzene/water emulsion, while I _E/I _M(0) for emulsions with n-hexane and cyclohexane was smaller than for benzene and fluorobenzene/water emulsions. I _E/I _M(t) hardly changed with time for the n-hexane and cyclohexane/water emulsions. This different behavior was attributed to the increased solubility of nanometer-size droplets with benzene and fluorobenzene. Received: 20 June 2001 Accepted: 19 April 2001     

Revisiting superdelocalizability. Mathematical stability of reactivity indices

Superdelocalizability, S _r, defined by Fukui et al. as a variant of reactivity indices in the Hückel molecular orbital scheme for conjugated hydrocarbon molecules is reinvestigated with particular emphasis on its behavior for infinitely large π-electronic systems. Surprisingly, almost all the S _r values of polyacetylene are found to diverge with the size of molecule, while all the S _r values of comb polyene converge to certain values. Similarly, the S _r values of linear polyacene diverge, while those of zigzag polyacene converge. Whether the superdelocalizability for a series of periodic polymers converges or diverges can be predicted, respectively, if the density of states of the infinitely large π-electron network is shown to have non-zero or zero gap at the Fermi level. The behavior of atom-atom polarizability defined by Coulson et al. is also checked and discussed. Received: 27 July 1998 / Accepted: 9 September 1998 / Published online: 23 February 1999     

Direct chemical in-depth profile analysis and thickness quantification of nanometer multilayers using pulsed-rf-GD-TOFMS

Nanometer depth resolution is investigated using an innovative pulsed-radiofrequency glow discharge time-of-flight mass spectrometer (pulsed-rf-GD-TOFMS). A series of ultra-thin (in nanometers approximately) Al/Nb bilayers, deposited on Si wafers by dc-magnetron sputtering, is analyzed. An Al layer is first deposited on the Si substrate with controlled and different values of the layer thickness, t _Al. Samples with t _Al = 50, 20, 5, 2, and 1 nm have been prepared. Then, a Nb layer is deposited on top of the Al one, with a thickness t _Nb = 50 nm that is kept constant along the whole series. Qualitative depth profiles of those layered sandwich-type samples are determined using our pulsed-rf-GD-TOFMS set-up, which demonstrated to be able to detect and measure ultra-thin layers (even of 1 nm). Moreover, Gaussian fitting of the internal Al layer depth profile is used here to obtain a calibration curve, allowing thickness estimation of such nanometer layers. In addition, the useful yield (estimation of the number of detected ions per sputtered atom) of the employed pulsed-rf-GD-TOFMS system is evaluated for Al at the selected operating conditions, which are optimized for the in-depth profile analysis with high depth resolution.     

Bioadsorption and ion exchange of Cr3+ and Pb2+ solutions with algae

Heavy metals can be removed from effluents and recovered using physico-chemical mechanisms as biosorption processes. In this work “Arribada” seaweed biomass was employed to assess its biosorptive capacity for the chromium (Cr³⁺) and lead (Pb²⁺) cations that usually are present in waste waters of plating industries. Equilibrium and kinetic experiments were conducted in a mixed reactor on a batch basis. Biosorption equilibrium and fluid-solid mass transfer constants data were analyzed through the concept of ion exchange sorption isotherm. The respective equilibrium exchange constants (K _eqCr=173.42, K _eqPb=58.86) and volumetric mass transfer coefficients ((k _mCr a)′=1.13×10⁻³ s⁻¹, (k _mPb a)′=0.89×10⁻³ s⁻¹) were employed for the dynamic analysis of Cr and Pb sorption in a fixed-bed flow-through sorption column. The breakthrough curves obtained for both metals were compared with the predicted values by the heterogeneous model (K _eqCr=171.29, K _eqPb=60.14; k _mCr a=7.81×10⁻² s⁻¹, k _mPb a=2.43×10⁻² s⁻¹), taking into account the mass transfer process. The results suggest that these algae may be employed in a metal removal/recovery process at low cost. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Micropolarity of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate reverse micelles prepared in supercritical ethane and near-critical propane

The micropolarity of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles prepared in supercritical ethane and near-critical propane has been determined in terms of a solvent polarity parameter, E _T(30) values, by using absorption probes, 1-ethyl-4-methoxycarbonyl pyridinium iodide and 2,6-diphenyl-4-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridinio)-phenolate as a functions of pressure and the molar ratio of water to AOT, W ₀, at a constant temperature of 310 K. The micropolarity comparable to that of ethanol was observed for reverse micelles containing water of W ₀ = 2. The micropolarity increased with the water content and became independent of pressure after the system changed to a one-phase reverse micelle solution. For a given W ₀ value, no difference in the micropolarity was noticed in the micelles prepared in ethane and propane. Phase behaviour investigations have revealed that complete dissolution of 50 mM AOT occurred at 20 MPa in supercritical ethane, while a much lower pressure of 1 MPa was required in near-critical propane. The amount of water solubilized in reverse micelles formed in supercritical ethane was relatively low, reaching a W ₀ value of 7 at 36 MPa. In contrast, the amount of water solubilized in near-critical propane reverse micelles was W ₀ = 11 at a much lower pressure of 6 MPa. A higher pressure was required to solubilize larger amount of water in reverse micelles prepared in both ethane and propane. Received: 9 October 1998 Accepted in revised form: 12 February 1999     

Synthesis and Reactivity of Stannyloligosilanes IV [1]: From Hydrido Substituted Stannasilanes Towards Stannasiloxanes

Summary.  Hydrido substituted stannasilanes of the type or (Z = H, Me, Ph; R, R′ = alkyl, Ph) are accessible by reaction of either alkali metal stannides (MSn(Z)R ₂; M = Li, Na) with halogen substituted silanes (; X = F, Cl) or chlorostannanes (R ₂SnCl₂, Ph₃SnCl) and fluorosilanes in the presence of magnesium. Stannasilanes with halogen substituents at the silicon as well as the tin atom are formed by treatment of the hydrido substituted stannasilanes with CHCl₃ or CCl₄. The hydrido substituted stannasilanes decompose in contact with air to distannanes and siloxanes or to the linear ( ^t Bu₂Sn(–O– ^t Bu₂Si–OH)₂) and cyclic ((– ^t Bu₂Sn–O– ⁱ Pr₂Si–O–)₂) stannasiloxanes. Received November 29, 2001. Accepted (revised) January 16, 2002     

Physicochemical Properties of Plant Protection Substances: I Polymorphism and Binary Systems of Triadimenol

 The fungicide triadimenol consists of a mixture of two diastereoisomers. Diastereoisomer A (1RS,2SR) could be obtained from the mixture by fractionated crystallization from ethanol/water and toluene, successively, whereas diastereoisomer B (1RS,2RS) could be separated by column chromatography on a silica gel column using ethylacetate as eluent. Four different crystal forms of diastereoisomer A could be derived. The modifications were characterized by means of thermal analysis (thermomicroscopy, DSC), FTIR-spectroscopy, FT-Raman-spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction, as well as pycnometry. The thermodynamic relationships are illustrated in a semischematic energy/temperature-diagram which provides information about the relative thermodynamic stabilities and physical properties of the four crystal forms. Mod. II (m.p. 132 °C, ΔH_f 33.1±0.2 kJ mol⁻¹, density 1.271±0.001 g cm⁻³) was obtained from toluene after the separation of diastereoisomer A and is enantiotropically related to mod. I (m.p. 138 °C, ΔH_f 32.0 ± 0.2 kJ mol⁻¹, density 1.243±0.001 g cm⁻³). The transition point of mod. II with mod. I was determined between 30 and 40 °C, which means that mod. II is thermodynamically stable at ambient conditions. Mod. III (m.p. 112 °C, ΔH_f 25.1±0.5 kJ mol⁻¹) and mod. IV were obtained from the melt. Furthermore, the phase diagrams of the binary systems of diastereoisomer B and the four modifications of diastereoisomer A were calculated by means of the experimentally obtained thermodynamical data. Received September 30, 1999. Revision July 30, 2000.     

Immobilization of Rhodococcus AJ270 and Useof Entrapped Biocatalyst for the Productionof Acrylic Acid

Summary.  Rhodococcus AJ270 is adsorbed by Dowex 1 at 15.4  mg dry weight per g resin with maximum amidase specific activity observed at lower loadings. Bacteria form a monolayer on the resin surface, and adsorption is complete within 2 min. AJ270 can be entrapped in agar and agarose gels (optimum loading: 20 mg dry weight bacteria per cm³ gel). Adsorption and entrapment improve amidase thermal stability 3–4 fold, and entrapment shifts the pH optimum from 8 to 7. Adsorbed and free bacteria show similar values for K _m and V _max, but entrapped bacteria have higher K _m values. Compared with bacteria adsorbed to Dowex, the activity per cm³ of matrix of agar-entrapped AJ270 is eight-fold higher. In stirred-tank reactors, exposure to acrylic acid reduces the amidase activity of the biocatalyst in the hydrolysis of acrylamide. In column reactors, entrapped AJ270 suffers little reduction in amidase activity against 0.25 M acrylamide over 22 h continuous operation. Received November 18, 1999. Accepted December 14, 1999     

Structural and calorimetric investigations on nonaqueous liquid crystals and gel phases in the binary system K-stearate/glycerol

The K-stearate/glycerol (KC₁₈/Gl) binary system was studied at mole fractions of stearate of x _KC18 = 0.10, 0.25, 0.30 and 0.50. Small- and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were combined with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements at different temperatures. The investigations were intended to verify the previously published phase diagram and were targeted at the confirmation of the gel-like (G₁) phase and the isotropic (I) phase. The XRD and DSC measurements lead to the conclusion that the G₁ phase as well as the I phase, the existence of which had been proposed from texture observations, do in fact not exist. Consequently, a correction of the preliminary phase diagram is given. This corrected phase diagram reveals the crystalline phase (C) ⇆ gel phase (G) ⇆ hexagonal phase (H_α) ⇆ isotropic, micellar phase phase transitions for low KC₁₈ concentrations of x _KC18 = 0.15–0.3 and the C ⇆ G ⇆ lamellar phase (L_α) phase transitions for concentrations about or higher than x _KC18 = 0.35. The C, G, L_α and H_α phases have been further characterized by structural parameters (characteristic d values) as a function of temperature. The phase transitions C ⇆ G, G ⇆ L_α and G ⇆ H_α correlate with sharp shifts in the d value of the first small-angle reflections. Received: 20 April 1999 Accepted: 28 July 1999     

Determination of homocitrulline in urine of patients with HHH syndrome by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method is described for the analysis of homocitrulline in human urine, a key metabolite in the differential diagnosis of hyperammonemia, hyperornithinemia, homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome. Urine samples were prepared by mere five-fold dilution with a mixture of internal standards (²H₂-citrulline and ²H₃-creatinine) used for the simultaneous quantification of creatinine. Analytes were separated on a cyano column and eluted isocratically within seven min. Detection was achieved by monitoring transitions of 190 > 84 and 190 > 127 for homocitrulline, 178 > 115 for ²H₂-citrulline, 114 > 44 for creatinine and 117 > 47 for ²H₃-creatinine. Calibration curves were linear up to 100 micromol/L. Intraday (n = 7) and interday (n = 6) variations were less than 10%. In urine samples from three siblings confirmed to have HHH syndrome, homocitrulline levels were at 13.3 (74), 21.1 (50) and 108.2 (103) mmol/mol creatinine (micromol/L). Control values were 0–9 mmol/mol creatinine (n = 120). The current method solves specificity issues in homocitrulline determination often encountered with some ninhydrin-based systems (coelution with methionine) and some o-phthalaldehyde-based ones (coelution with taurine), and presents an attractive alternative with a relatively high throughput.     

Synthesis and pH-sensitive micellization of doubly hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) triblock copolymer in aqueous solutions

A doubly hydrophilic triblock copolymer poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA-b-PEO-b-PAA) with M _w/M _n = 1.15 was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization of t-butyl acrylate (tBA), followed by acidolysis of the PtBA blocks. The pH-sensitive micellization of PAA-b-PEO-b-PAA in acidic solution was investigated by potentiometric titration, fluorescence spectrum, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential. The pK _a was 6.6 and 6.0 in deionized water and in 0.1 mol/L NaCl solution, respectively. The copolymer formed micelles composed of a weakly hydrophobic core of complexed PAA and PEO and a hydrophilic PEO shell in 1 mg/mL solution at pH < 5.5 due to hydrogen bonding. The critical micelle concentration was 0.168 mg/mL at pH 2.0. At pH < 4.5, steady and narrow distributed micelles were formed. Increasing pH to 5.0, unsteady and broad distributed micelles were observed. At pH > 5.5, the micelle was destroyed owing to the ionization of the PAA blocks.