Abstract
Abstract This article highlights the synthetic polyampholytes that are able to mimic the behavior of natural polyampholytes, proteins, and illustrates some examples that merge the interface between artificial and natural materials. The electrochemical behavior, solubility, viscosity, mobility, hydrodynamic properties, phase, and conformational transitions of polyampholytes are considered. Adsorption of polyampholytes onto solid, liquid, and gas interfaces is discussed from polarization‐induced attraction forces point of view. The so‐called “isoelectric effect,” which is realized at the isoelectric point of polyampholytes, is emphasized. Complexation of polyampholytes with proteins, polyelectrolytes, metal ions, and surfactants is analyzed. Practical significance of polyampholytes in water purification, desalination, protein separation, oil industry, catalysis, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and medicine is outlined.