PREPARATION OF PROTEIN - POLYELECTROLYTE COMPLEX BY SELF-ASSEMBLING

The complexation of globular proteins with both natural and synthetic flexible polyelectrolytes is of considerable technological importance. In the study the critical conditions for the formation of complex systems between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and polyelectrolytes was examined. Poly(aspartic acid) (PAS), belonging to the family of synthetic polypeptides, was chosen as polyelectrolyte, as it is a typical biocompatible, biodegradable, and water-soluble polymer. Different molar ratio protein-polyelectrolyte complexes obtained by mixing PAS and BSA solutions were investigated by various characterization techniques such as: DLS studies, chemical imaging on near infrared region, ESEM studies and dielectric spectroscopy. The optimum conditions for the BSA/PAS complex formation were established. Our results showed that the best proportion for the formation of interpolymer complex was the equimolecular molar ratio (1/1).