Coacervation in polyzwitterion-polyelectrolyte systems and their potential applications for gastrointestinal drug delivery platforms

Abstract

Coacervation is widely studied as potential drug delivery platform, but formation of coacervates at lower pH ranges, such as found in the gastrointestinal tract, remains challenging. Here, using theory and experimental methods, the authors demonstrate the formation of a polyzwitterionic complex, formed by coacervation of a polyzwitterion and a polyelectrolyte, exhibiting orthogonal phase behavior under physiological low pH conditions.