| Abstract
| - Particulate systems composed of polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) based on chitosan and poly(methacrylic acid)were obtained via template polymerization. The resultant particles were characterized as having regions with differentcharge densities: chitosan predominating in the core and poly(methacrylic acid) at the surface, the particles beingnegatively charged, as a consequence. Albumin was adsorbed on these particles (after cross-linking with glutardialdehyde),and pH was controlled to obtain two conditions: (i) adsorption of positively charged albumin and (ii) adsorption ofalbumin at its isoelectric point. Adsorption isotherms and ζ-potential measurements showed that albumin adsorptionwas controlled by hydrogen bonding/van der Waals interactions and that brush-like structures may enhance theadsorption of albumin on these particles. It was also found that shearing can induce desorption of albumin from thePEC surface, depending on the continuous phase albumin concentration.
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