Micellar Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes with a Compartmentalized Shell

We investigate the formation of micellar interpolyelectrolyte complexes (IPECs) from multicompartment micelles (MCMs) of polybutadiene-block-poly(1-methyl-2-vinylpyridinium methylsulfate)-block-poly(methacrylic acid) (BVqMAA) triblock terpolymers and polycations of opposite charge. As cationic material, predominantly a polymer with a high charge density is used: quaternized poly(2-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)methylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDAMAq), which carries two positive net charges per monomer unit. Upon IPEC formation at different charge stoichiometries, particles with a compartmentalized IPEC shell are formed. These rather unusual structures even form when both BVqMAA micelles and PDAMAq are mixed at high salinity, followed by dialysis, indicating that the structures formed are not kinetically trapped. Whereas the nature of the polycation seems to play a minor role, our studies suggest that the length of the PMAA corona is the key factor for the formation of a compartmentalized IPEC shell.