Self-assembly of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) through electrostatic interaction with sodium dodecyl sulfate

The self-assembly of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) through an electrostatic interaction with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was explored. PAH itself showed no self-assembly in water. A light scattering study demonstrated that PAH formed monodispersed spherical aggregates in water in the presence of SDS. The hydrodynamic diameter of the aggregates was estimated to be ca. 170 nm based on the cumulant analysis. The scattering intensity and UV absorbance at 258 nm based on the aggregation increased with an increase in the molar ratio of SDS to the allylamine hydrochloride unit (SDS/AH), indicating an increase in the number of aggregates. On the other hand, the hydrodynamic diameter of aggregates was constant, i.e., independent of the SDS/AH ratio. The constant size of the aggregates in spite of the increase in the number of aggregates suggests the formation of the micellar aggregates by the intramolecular association through an electrostatic interaction.