Study of the Reversible Dissociation of an Interpolyelectrolyte Complex of Chitosan and Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate in a Monosodium Glutamate Solution

The anomalous solubility of an interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) of chitosan (CN) and sodium chondroitin sulfate (SCS) in a monosodium glutamate (MSG) solution associated with its dissociation into the initial components is discovered and studied using viscometry, turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, static light scattering, and gravimetry. It is shown that complete dissociation of the stoichiometric interpolyelectrolyte complex of the said polyelectrolytes can be achieved in a monosodium glutamate solution with an order of magnitude lower ionic strength than in solutions of other salts. The possibility of the reverse formation of the interpolyelectrolyte complex of chitosan and sodium chondroitin sulfate from its decay products as the concentration of monosodium glutamate decreases is revealed. The possible areas of application of this phenomenon are identified, in particular, in medicine.