The effect of a low-molecular-mass salt on stoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes composed of oppositely charged macromolecules with different solvent affinities

The effect of a low-molecular-mass salt on the thermodynamic stability of stoichiometric interpolymer complexes composed of oppositely charged macromolecules with different solvent affinities has been theoretically studied. It has been shown that the dissociation of such complexes with an increase in the concentration of the salt proceeds via several stages. At a low concentration of the salt, complexes retain their structure and dimensions. When a certain critical concentration of the salt n _s^cr is achieved, the dimensions of the complex increase abruptly. At this concentration, macromolecules involved in the complex begin to separate, and at concentration n _s^*, they fully move apart but remain soluble owing to the polyelectrolyte effect. Upon a further increase in the concentration of the salt, the polyelectrolyte effect is shielded and the dimensions of macromolecules decrease. The critical concentration of the low-molecular-mass salt, n _s^cr, increases with an increase in the degree of ionization of macromolecules and a decrease in the affinity of the hydrophilic component for water and diminishes with the degree of polymerization of macromolecules and the degree of hydrophobicity of a polycation. Because of the easy formation of soluble complexes from oppositely charged macromolecules differing in solvent affinities and their high stability in solutions of a low-molecularmass salt, such complexes are promising for wide use in medicine and pharmaceutical practice.