ABSTRACT
Polyampholytes constitute a particular class of polyions containing both positively and negatively charged units. The properties of these complex systems are essentially ruled by electrostatic interactions. As a rule, the synthesis of polyampholytic copolymers or terpolymers leads to samples containing the inorganic counterions associated with the cationic and anionic monomer units. However, it is possible to dialyze the excess ions and to obtain zero net-charge polyampholytes without counterions. A schematic representation of a linear polyampholyte is given in Figure 1.
