This review is concerned with the synthesis of hybrid materials in solutions, suspensions, and gels of polyelectrolytes with emphasis being placed on the role of interaction between functional groups of macromolecules and ions/surfaces of metals in the control over the processes of nucleation and growth of nanoparticles. The use of several macromolecules carrying nonionogenic groups for the effective control over the sizes and shapes of nanoparticles is exemplified. As the main method for the synthesis of metal nanostructures in colloidal systems, a method based on the reduction of metal ions is discussed. Mechanisms and conditions determining the assembly of metal–polymer nanocomposites of various architectures in polyelectrolyte matrixes and organized polymer systems are considered.

Using key publications, the review analyzes fundamental methods for synthesizing polymer biocides of varying chemical structure and discusses the mechanism behind the effect of the described formulations and their areas of application. High molecular weight compounds with inherent biocidal activity and opportunities for modification of polymers through chemical transformations or introduction of organic or inorganic additives are considered. The key focus of this review is on the analysis of approaches to the production of antibacterial coatings. Particular attention is given to the prospects of using cationic polyelectrolytes and metallopolymer compounds to which the resistance of pathogenic bacteria is not developed.

The specifics of X-ray-induced reduction of copper(II) ions in the polyacrylic acid-polyethyleneimine-copper(II) (PAA-PEI-Cu2+) complexes were studied. It was found that the action of radiation led...

The formation of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) in irradiated aqueous solutions of star-shaped poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were studied at two pH values. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrates that the star-shaped macromolecules loaded with Cu²⁺ ions can act as individual nanosized containers providing a perfect control over the size and size distribution of Cu-NPs. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical spectroscopy show a transformation of mechanisms controlling the reduction of Cu²⁺ ions and the further formation of Cu-NPs. At pH 2.9, Cu-NPs are formed from the aquacomplexes of Cu²⁺ ions through homogeneous nucleation. At pH 4.3, the formation of Cu-NPs occurs inside macromolecular containers loaded with Cu²⁺ ions, which are bound to carboxylic groups of the polyelectrolyte. In the latter case, Cu-NPs apparently ripen from preformed hydrated Cu₂O seeds, which are thought to result from the ultrasmall (Cu²⁺)_m(OH⁻)_k(COO⁻)_n species, thus implying a heterogeneous nucleation.

Interpolyelectrolyte complexes possess high ion-exchange capacity, which makes it possible to obtain metal-polymer compounds on their basis and allows their use for the extraction of metal...