Alginate polyelectrolyte complexes with cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose derivatives: Role of the block structure

It was shown that the block structure of alginate significantly affects the mechanism of formation and properties of its water-soluble polyelectrolyte complexes with cationic derivatives of hydroxyethyl cellulose. Alginate that contains residues of only mannuronic acid remains in solution in the form of coils, and the incorporation of guluronic acid residues gives rise to formation of a network structure. A difference in the structure of polyelectrolyte complexes is explained by different rigidities of blocks formed by residues of mannuronic and guluronic acids having different conformations of the pyranose ring.