Polyelectrolyte Complexes of Poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium Chloride) and Drug Microparticles on Their Basis

Formation of dispersions of microparticles of polyelectrolyte complexes based on poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) and carboxylated arabinogalactan as well as their complexes with amino acids (histidine, arginine, and lysine) has been investigated by means of laser light scattering. Chemical modification of the polyelectrolytes with amino acids, inducing the decrease in the content of the ionic groups in the macromolecules, has led to the increase in the size of the polyelectrolyte complexes microparticles. The conditions for the polyelectrolyte complex systems preparation have been optimized in view of the aggregative stability and the particles size. It has been stated that mean size of the polyelectrolyte complex particles is increased linearly with the increase in the polyanion : polycation molar ratio in the complex. It has been shown that the sediments of the polyelectrolyte complexes isolated from the aqueous dispersions are stable in the form of dry particles and afford the microparticles with size comparable to this of the initial complexes upon dispersion in water. This feature opens the possibility to resolve the issue of prolonged storage of physiologically active microparticles.