Murugappan Muthukumar is the Wilmer D. Barrett Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, is recipient of the Dillon Medal and the Polymer Physics Prize of the American Physical Society, as well as the ACS Polymer Chemistry Award.

'Understanding the behavior of charged macromolecules in solution is one of the grand challenges of modern soft matter physics and chemistry, as these phenomena impact a multitude of cellular processes as well as numerous emerging technologies. This monograph, by a world expert in the field, is unique in providing a self-contained tutorial approach that begins with the basic of electrostatics, polymer conformations, and solution thermodynamics, and proceeds to cover self-assembly, phase separation and coacervation, dynamics, and polyelectrolyte gels. The level is tailored to beginning graduate students, and the author's style gently captures the mathematical sophistication required, while never losing sight of the underlying physics. This book represents the first comprehensive pedagogical overview of the field, and even experts can learn much from its treatment.' Tim Lodge, University of Minnesota

• Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction to charged macromolecules; 2. Models of uncharged macromolecules; 3. Water, oil, and salt; 4. Charged interfaces and geometrical objects; 5. Dilute solutions of charged macromolecules; 6. Structure and thermodynamics in homogeneous polyelectrolyte solutions; 7. Dynamics; 8. Self-assembly and phase behaviors; 9. Adsorption, complexation, and coacervation; 10. Gels; 11. Epilogue; Appendices.