Abstract: A simple theoretical model of the Donnan equilibrium is applied to studies of distributions of ions between the external and internal volumes of hollow polyelectrolyte capsules as well as of concomitant osmotic pressure load on a capsule wall resulting from these distributions and the presence of polyanion. The model system consist of dispersed polyelectrolyte capsules in an electrolyte solution whereby two cases are considered with respect to the presence of the polyanion, either in the inner or external solution. It is assumed that the capsule wall is impermeable to polyanion, but water and all ions can freely penetrate. The model predictions are summarized by presenting the difference between the external pH, the pH of the inner solution and the osmotic pressure difference across the capsule wall, both in the dependence of sodium chloride concentration.Keywords: biophysics, polyelectrolytes, polyelectrolyte capsules, Donnan equilibrium, osmotic pressurePublished in DKUM: 07.06.2012; Views: 2176; Downloads: 131 Full text (141,11 KB)This document has many files! More...
Abstract: Polyelectrolyte multilayer sensor capsules, 5 m in diameter, which contained fluorescein-labeled poly(acrylic acid) (PAAAF) as pH-sensitive reporter molecules, were fabricated and employed to explore their endocytotic uptake into HEK 293T cells by flow cytometry. The percentage of capsules residing in the endolysosomal compartment was estimated from the fluorescence intensity decrease caused by acidification. Capsules attached to the extracellular surface of the plasma membrane were identified by trypan blue quenching. The number of capsules in the cytoplasm was rather small, being below the detection limit of the method. The advantages of polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules are that the fluorophore is protected from interaction with cellular compartments and that the multilayer can be equipped with additional functions.Keywords: biophysics, polyelectrolytes, multilayer capsules, polyelectrolyte capsulesPublished in DKUM: 07.06.2012; Views: 1696; Downloads: 117 Link to full text
