Polyelectrolyte complex micelles (PCMs), core-shell nanoparticles formed by self-assembly
of charged polymers in aqueous solution, provide a powerful platform for exploring the
physics of polyelectrolyte interactions and also offer a promising solution to the pressing
problem of delivering therapeutic oligonucleotides in vivo. Developing predictive structure-
property relationships for PCMs has proven difficult, in part due to the presence of strong
kinetic traps during nanoparticle self-assembly. This article discusses criteria for choosing …