ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Hydrophobically Modified Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes (IPECs) Based on Quaternised Chitosan and Poly(methacrylic acid) ? Structural Control via the Composition

Abstract: Interpolyelectrolyte complexes (IPECs) can be tailored by introducing hydrophobic side chains (C6 or C12) onto the polymeric backbone of one or both binding partners, forming hydrophobically modified IPECs (hm-IPECs). These hydrophobic domains strongly influence solubility and internal organisation in aqueous solution. This project focuses on dual modification using poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and quaternised chitosan, where both polymers will be functionalised with C6 or C12 side chains at substitution degrees of 0, 5, or 10%. Dual-, single-, and non-modified systems will be directly compared. In addition, two quaternisation strategies for chitosan will be examined: one with the cationic group directly attached to the backbone, and another with a short alkyl spacer separating charge and backbone. This design enables controlled variation of both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Preliminary light-scattering and SANS data already reveal distinct changes in solution behaviour and mesoscopic structure with increasing hydrophobic content, yet the overall structural picture remains incomplete. To address this, systematic SANS experiments in D2O will be performed, varying the mixing ratio, hydrophobic substitution degree on both polymers, side-chain length, and chitosan quaternisation strategy. This approach aims to elucidate how dual hm-IPEC structure and organisation can be tuned for applications in drug solubilisation, tissue engineering, and flocculation.

Principal Investigator: Ms Michelle Buchholz
Experimenter: Professor Michael Gradzielski
Local Contact: Dr Gregory Smith
Experimenter: Mr Anton Michel-Busch

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2610428

ISIS Experiment Number: RB2610428

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
Select the data format above to find out more about it.

Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Ms Michelle Buchholz et al; (2026): Hydrophobically Modified Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes (IPECs) Based on Quaternised Chitosan and Poly(methacrylic acid) ? Structural Control via the Composition, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2610428

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.