A new class of complex water-soluble polyelectrolytes

Water-soluble nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes (N-PEC) constitute a new class of polyelectrolytes. N-PEC are formed as a result of interaction between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes taken in non-equivalent rations and thus they are macromolecular compounds. An N-PEC particle can be represented as a macromolecule of a segmented block copolymer. The behaviour of the N-PEC in aqueous-salt media shows their polyelectrolyte nature, but in contrast to ordinary polyelectrolytes, they undergo considerable conformational changes. These transitions precede phase separations, which are unique and are accompanied by the phenomena of disproportionation. Using N-PEC as enzyme carriers it is possible to produce self-regulating systems with a feedback and also thermostable systems, which are the simplest models of a spore. The N-PEC formed by synthetic polyelectrolytes and some proteins, show a pronounced physiological activity and belong to the class of highly immunogenic antigens.