(A) study of selective complexation phenomena among macromolecules by qualitative and quantitative methods

Abstract

In chapter 1, intermacromolecular complex formations between poly(L-proline) (PLP) having $\alpha$ -helical conformation and complementary macromolecules, such as poly (methacrylic acid)(PMAA) and poly(acrylic acid)(PAA) having random-coiled conformation, through hydrogen bonding in aqueous medium have been studied by viscosity measurement. And selective intermacromolecular complexation phenomea in ternary-component system involving macromolecules with different conformations, such as poly(L-proline)(PLP), poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO), and poly(methacrylic acid)(PMAA) has been studied by viscosity measurement. From the reduced viscosity change for the binary-component systems, the minimum points at [PLP]/[PMAA]=1.0 and [PLP]/[PAA]=1.0 suggest 1:1 complex formation, and for the ternary-component system it may be suggested that relative complexation ability of a helical PLP is greater than that of a random-coiled PEO with respective to a random-coiled PMAA. In chapter 2, stability constants and thermodynamic parameters of (i.e. standard free energy change $F^\circ$, standard enthalpy change $H^\circ$, and standard entropy change $\triangle{S}^\circ$) have been determined for intermacromolecular complexation processes in binary-component systems composed of PLP, PVPo, PEO, PMAA, and PAA. Comparing these values in binary-component systems the selectivity of a particular macromolecule in multicomponent systems with respective to a complementary macromolecule was calculated. From these results it has been observed that the complexation ability is determined by the conformation of participating macro-molecules as well as the interacting strength of active sites.