Surface force measurements on cationic polymer/hyaluronic acid mixtures on mica

Surface force measurements have been made between mica surfaces with adsorbed layers of (i) cationic polymer alone and (ii) cationic polymer/hyaluronic acid mixtures. The cationic polymers used, Polymer JR 400 and QUATRISOFT, are derived from hydroxyethylcellulose, When cationic polymer/hyaluronic acid mixtures are either sequentially or simultaneously adsorbed onto mica, a negatively charged surface, the adsorbed layer extends farther from the surface and is less compressible than in the case with the cationic polymer alone. This demonstrates that the cationic polymer acts as an anchor for the anionic polymer. Furthermore, the cationic/anionic polymer "complex" is not washed off the mica surface even when repeatedly rinsed with water. Addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate to the pre-adsorbed complex did not affect its configuration or compressibility.