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@PHDTHESIS{Buvalaia:1013448,
author = {Buvalaia, Ekaterina},
othercontributors = {Förster, Stephan Friedrich and Richtering, Walter},
title = {{F}rom polyelectrolytes towards poly amino acid complexes
and protein polymers},
school = {RWTH Aachen University},
type = {Dissertation},
address = {Aachen},
publisher = {RWTH Aachen University},
reportid = {RWTH-2025-05519},
pages = {1 Online-Ressource : Illustrationen},
year = {2025},
note = {Veröffentlicht auf dem Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen
University; Dissertation, RWTH Aachen University, 2025},
abstract = {Polyelectrolytes (PEs), polymers with ionizable groups, are
fundamental in a wide range of applications, reaching from
environmental science to biomedical engineering. This thesis
delves into two primary areas of study: first, bridging the
knowledge gap between PEs and structurally more complex
proteins, particularly focusing on structure and dynamics of
PEs, second, examining the formation and behavior of
polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) under diverse environmental
conditions. Using polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) as a model PE,
its structural and dynamic properties were studied, where
dynamics was described as Zimm-like supplemented by internal
friction (ZIF). This analysis is aimed to enhance the
understanding of hydrodynamic interactions and internal
friction within PEs by correlating collective diffusion with
local chain dynamics. Dynamic light scattering (DLS),
neutron spin-echo (NSE) spectroscopy, pulsed field gradient
neutron magnetic resonance (PFG-NMR) spectroscopy and
small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were employed to
investigate the structure and dynamics of PSS at dilute and
semidilute regimes. The second part of the thesis focuses on
PECs, composed of oppositely charged poly amino acids
(PAAs), examining how environmental factors and PAA
variations influence PECs structure. Mixing charged PAAs
results in high-density droplet phases and dense hexagonal
lattices of parallel α-helices, affected by PAA properties
like molecular weight, concentration and pH. These mixtures
are promising for applications in drug delivery and tissue
engineering, requiring an understanding of their phase
transitions in response to temperature, pH and ionic
strength. The study also explores how magnetic fields and
shear forces impact PEC formation and stability, revealing a
range of structures from crystalline α-helices to amorphous
phases based on salt concentrations. Through these
investigations, this thesis aims to shed light on the
complex behaviors of PEs and PECs, contributing to a deeper
understanding of their roles in diverse applications and
biological processes.},
cin = {155710 / 150000},
ddc = {540},
cid = {$I:(DE-82)155710_20190327$ / $I:(DE-82)150000_20140620$},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)11},
doi = {10.18154/RWTH-2025-05519},
url = {https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/1013448},
}
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