(565e) Physical Property Scaling Relationships for Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Polyelectrolyte complex micelles (PCMs) are attractive for the delivery of hydrophilic payloads. PCM attributes are strongly dependent on the size and chemical structure of each polymer block. Neutral blocks drive nanoscale phase separation while charged blocks control micelle core size and stability. An understanding of stability and physical property behavior controlled by block size and polymer chemistry is crucial when designing for use in dynamic or biological environments and provide a greater understanding of the physics of polyelectrolyte assembly. In this work, we use small angle x-ray scattering, light scattering, and electron microscopy to determine scaling behaviors of micelle shape, size, and stability for commonly used polyelectrolytes.