IMMOBILIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL MATTER BY POLYELECTROLYTE COMPLEX-FORMATION

The immobilisation of biological matter plays an important part in cre ating biologically active systems for applications preferably in biote chnological processes or in medical treatments. The immobilisation by polyelectrolyte complex formation, allowing the encapsulation of sensi tive biological objects or materials without causing any damage to the m, has become a powerful alternative method. In more detail experiment al results on capsule formation with sodium cellulose sulphate and pol y(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) as reaction compounds are reported . Capsule formation and capsule properties (morphological features, cu t-off, rate of NaCS conversion, size and mechanical stability) are loo ked at under polymerchemical and physicochemical aspects. The importan ce of osmotic effects is revealed. It is shown that the capsule proper ties depend not only on the chemical structure of the polyelectrolytes or the conditions of capsule preparation, but also remarkably on the polymerchemical characteristics of the reaction components, particular ly on their molecular mass and/or molecular mass distribution.