Coacervate

Coacervation is a unique type of electrostatically-driven liquid-liquid phase separation, resulting from association of oppositely charged macro-ions. The term "coacervate" is sometimes used to refer to spherical aggregates of colloidal droplets held together by hydrophobic forces. Coacervate droplets can measure from 1 to 100 micrometres across, while their soluble precursors, are typically on the order of less than 200 nm. The name "coacervate" derives from the Latin coacervare, meaning "to assemble together or cluster".