Novel polyelectrolyte complex between chitosan and poly(2-acryloylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid-co-acrylic acid)

A novel polyelectrolyte complex between chitosan and copolymers of 2-acryloylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and acrylic acid (AA) has been prepared. The formation of the complex has been studied viscometrically, gravimetrically and turbidimetrically in the pH range from 1.2 to 5.8. The stoichiometry and the yield of the complex depend on the copolymer composition and on the pH value of the medium. In the case of copolymers with low content of AMPS units the complexes are enriched in copolymer when formed in the pH range from 1.2 to 4.8. In this pH region mainly AMPS units take part in complex formation. A stoichiometric complex forms only at higher pH values due to the increased number of complexable carboxylate ions of AA units. The stoichiometry of the complexes prepared from copolymers with higher content of AMPS units is close to equimolar and is less sensitive to pH. The obtained complexes are stable up to pH 8. It has been shown that chitosan once included in the complexes remains degradable under the action of a crude enzyme complex produced by the soil fungus Trichoderma viride. The rate of the enzymatic hydrolysis decreases in the order chitosan/PAA > chitosan/P(AMPS-co-AA) > chitosan/PAMPS. Tests on the proliferation of T. viride embedded in chitosan beads have shown that coating the beads with chitosan/P(AMPS-co-AA) complex does not hamper the development of the microorganisms.