Complex coacervation, a specific type of associative phase separation that happens when oppositely charged macro-ions (or polyelectrolytes) are mixed, is the formation of a dense macro-ion-rich phase (the coacervate) in equilibrium with a dilute macro-ion-poor phase (the continuous phase or supernatant). Since Bungenberg de Jong and colleagues’ ground-breaking work on the gelatin–acacia gum complex coacervation in the 1920s and 1940s, coacervates have drawn increasing research attention because they are essential to a wide range of established and developing technologies. Charge complexation in solution may play a role in this association. Unfortunately, misconceptions about the theoretical foundations of complex coacervation are common, and conceptual errors have persisted in the literature. This Review is an attempt to provide a concise and comprehensive overview of the main research streams pursued in this field regarding the parameters influencing the formation of complex coacervates, encompassing various technological aspects enabling the investigation of complex coacervates in industrial applications. Coacervate complex formation is a well-known and widely used, but poorly understood, phenomenon in physical polymer science. Finally, a critical assessment of perspectives and anticipated difficulties in the further development and improvement of next-generation materials is suggested, and insights into the field’s future prospects are explored.

中文翻译：

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用于生物医学的复杂凝聚层材料：最新进展和未来前景

复合凝聚是一种特定类型的缔合相分离，当带相反电荷的大离子（或聚电解质）混合时发生，是与稀释的大离子相平衡形成致密的富含大离子的相（凝聚层）。贫相（连续相或上清液）。自从 Bungenberg de Jong 及其同事在 20 世纪 20 年代和 1940 年代在明胶-阿拉伯胶复合物凝聚方面进行了开创性工作以来，凝聚层引起了越来越多的研究关注，因为它们对于广泛的已建立和正在开发的技术至关重要。溶液中的电荷络合可能在这种关联中发挥作用。不幸的是，对复杂凝聚理论基础的误解很常见，并且概念错误在文献中持续存在。本综述试图对该领域中关于影响复杂凝聚层形成的参数的主要研究方向提供简洁而全面的概述，涵盖了能够在工业应用中研究复杂凝聚层的各种技术方面。凝聚复合物的形成是物理聚合物科学中众所周知且广泛使用但人们了解甚少的现象。最后，建议对下一代材料进一步开发和改进的前景和预期困难进行批判性评估，并探讨对该领域未来前景的见解。