Specific ion effects on the water solubility of macromolecules: PNIPAM and the Hofmeister series

Yanjie Zhang, Steven Furyk, David E. Bergbreiter, Paul S. Cremer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1144 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aqueous processes ranging from protein folding and enzyme turnover to colloidal ordering and macromolecular precipitation are sensitive to the nature and concentration of the ions present in solution. Herein, the effect of a series of sodium salts on the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAM, was investigated with a temperature gradient microfluidic device under a dark-field microscope. While the ability of a particular anion to lower the LCST generally followed the Hofmeister series, analysis of solvent isotope effects and of the changes in LCST with ion concentration and identity showed multiple mechanisms were at work. In solutions containing sufficient concentrations of strongly hydrated anions, the phase transition of PNIPAM was directly correlated with the hydration entropy of the anion. On the other hand, weakly hydrated anions were salted-out through surface tension effects and displayed improved hydration by direct ion binding.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14505-14510
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume127
Issue number41
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 19 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Catalysis
  • Chemistry(all)
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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