Self‐assembly of Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles with Rigid and Flexible Multifunctional Linkers

The interparticle spacing of carboxyl functionalized gold nanoparticles (Au‐COOH) were mediated by rigid crosslinkers, octa(3‐aminopropyl)octasilsesquioxane (POSS‐NH₃ ⁺) and poly(amidoamine) dendrimer terminated with hydroxyl groups (PAMAM‐OH), and a flexible polymeric linker, poly(hexanul viologen) (6‐VP). Regular interparticle spacing was achieved by utilizing POSS‐NH₃ ⁺ and PAMAM‐OH dendrimer as cross linkers, whereas size growth of Au‐COOH was observed featuring no interparticle spacing by utilizing 6‐VP as the crosslinker.     

Rapid Bacterial Recognition over a Wide pH Range by Boronic Acid-Based Ditopic Dendrimer Probes for Gram-Positive Bacteria

We have developed a convenient and selective method for the detection of Gram-positive bacteria using a ditopic poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer probe. The dendrimer that was modified with dipicolylamine (dpa) and phenylboronic acid groups showed selectivity toward Staphylococcus aureus. The ditopic dendrimer system had higher sensitivity and better pH tolerance than the monotopic PAMAM dendrimer probe. We also investigated the mechanisms of various ditopic PAMAM dendrimer probes and found that the selectivity toward Gram-positive bacteria was dependent on a variety of interactions. Supramolecular interactions, such as electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic interaction, per se, did not contribute to the bacterial recognition ability, nor did they improve the selectivity of the ditopic dendrimer system. In contrast, the ditopic PAMAM dendrimer probe that had a phosphate-sensing dpa group and formed a chelate with metal ions showed improved selectivity toward S. aureus. The results suggested that the targeted ditopic PAMAM dendrimer probe showed selectivity toward Gram-positive bacteria. This study is expected to contribute to the elucidation of the interaction between synthetic molecules and bacterial surface. Moreover, our novel method showed potential for the rapid and species-specific recognition of various bacteria.     

Structural analysis of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer immobilized in crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol)

Polymeric membranes comprised of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer immobilized in a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) network exhibit an excellent CO₂ separation selectivity over H₂. The CO₂ permeability increases with PAMAM dendrimer concentration in the polymeric membrane and becomes 500 times greater than H₂ permeability when the dendrimer content was 50 wt % at ambient conditions (5 kPa of CO₂ partial pressure). However, the detailed morphology of the membrane has not been discussed. The immiscibility of PAMAM dendrimer and PEG matrix results in phase separation, which takes place in a couple of microns scale. Especially, laser scanning confocal microscope captures a 3D morphology of the polymeric blend. The obtained 3D reconstructions demonstrate a bicontinuous structure of PAMAM dendrimer‐rich and PEG‐rich phases, which indicates the presence of PAMAM dendrimer channel penetrating the polymeric membrane, and CO₂ will preferentially pass through the dendrimer channel. In addition, Fourier transform of the 3D reconstructions indicates the presence of a periodic structure. An average size of the dendrimer domain calculated is 2–4 μm in proportion to PAMAM dendrimer concentration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Polyamidoamine dendrimer and dextran conjugates: preparation,characterization, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation

Amide and ester conjugates of aceclofenac with polyamidoamine (PAMAM-G0) dendrimer zero generation and dextran (40 kDa) polymeric carrier, respectively, are presented. The prepared conjugates were characterized by UV, TLC, HPLC, IR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The average degrees of substitution of amide and ester conjugates were determined and found to be (12.5 ± 0.24) % and (7.5 ± 0.25) %, respectively. The in vitro hydrolysis studies showed that dextran ester conjugate hydrolyzed faster in a phosphate buffer solution of pH 9.0 as compared to PAMAM dendrimer G0 amide conjugate, and followed the first order kinetics. No amount of the drug was regenerated at pH 1.2 in simulated gastric fluid. The dextran conjugate showed short half-life as compared to the PAMAM dendrimer conjugate. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the dendrimer conjugate were found to be similar to those of the standard drug. Results of chronic ulceroginic activity showed deep ulceration and high ulcer index for aceclofenac, whereas lower ulcer index was found for the PAMAM dendrimer and dextran (40 kDa) conjugates. Experimental data suggest that PAMAM dendrimer and dextran (40 kDa) can be used as carriers for the sustained delivery of aceclofenac along with a remarkable reduction in gastrointestinal toxicity.     

PAMAM树形分子与Cd2＋的配位作用研究及CdS/PAMAM纳米复合材料的制备与表征

CdS半导体纳米簇具有独特的光、电性能, 如何制备均匀分散的、能够稳定存在的CdS纳米簇是目前的研究热点之一. 以聚酰胺-胺(PAMAM)树形分子为模板, 原位合成了CdS纳米簇. 首先用UV-Vis分光光度法研究了与树形分子的配位机理, 得出G4.5和G5.0的平均饱和配位数分别为16和34, 并发现在G4.5PAMAM树形分子中Cd^2＋主要与最外层叔胺基配位, 在G5.0PAMAM树形分子中Cd^2＋主要与最外层伯胺基配位. 酯端基的G4.5的模板作用要明显优于胺端基的G5.0. 通过改变Cd^2＋与G4.5树形分子的摩尔比可以得到不同粒径的CdS纳米簇. 溶液的pH值对CdS纳米簇影响很大, pH在7.0左右制备的CdS纳米簇粒径小而均匀, 且溶液稳定性高. 用UV-Vis分光光度计和TEM对CdS纳米簇的大小和形貌进行了表征. 结果表明TEM观测CdS纳米簇的粒径要大于用Brus公式的估算值.     

SiO2–poly(amidoamine) dendrimer inorganic/organic hybrids

SiO₂–poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer hybrids were synthesized via (1) a Michael addition reaction between the dendrimer and 3‐(trimethoxysilyl) propyl acrylate, (2) the dissolution of the formed compound in methanol, and (3) the mixing of the latter solution with a methanol solution of partly hydrolyzed tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and its casting on a glass substrate. ¹H NMR indicated that in the first step, 77% of the secondary amines were converted into tertiary amines when the fourth‐generation dendrimer was employed and 46% were converted when the second‐generation dendrimer was used. The final SiO₂–PAMAM dendrimer hybrids were obtained via the hydrolysis and condensation of the compound obtained via the Michael addition and the methanol solution of partly hydrolyzed TEOS. The compartmentalized structure of the hybrids due to the compartments of the dendrimers could be controlled by changing the dendrimer and the amount of TEOS. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy micrographs provided information about the structure of the hybrids. Like the PAMAM dendrimer, the SiO₂–PAMAM dendrimer hybrids exhibited a high metal ion complexing capacity because of the presence of the compartments of the dendrimer; they can be, however, much more easily handled, and, as demonstrated by thermogravimetric experiments, have much higher thermal resistance. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1443–1449, 2000     

含树枝状大分子PAMAM的苯乙烯乳液聚合

将树枝状大分子PAMAM (4 5代 )作为种子 ,以苯乙烯为代表性单体进行乳液聚合 .研究结果表明 ,加入树枝状大分子PAMAM时 ,所制得的聚合物乳液粒子平均粒径在 30～ 5 0nm之间 ,小于 10 0nm ,且大小分布均匀 ;所制备的聚合物在 16 70cm- 1 左右处出现酰胺的特征吸收峰 ,在 330 0cm- 1 左右处出现N—H伸缩振动特征峰 ;说明树枝状大分子PAMAM起到种子的作用 ,所制备的聚合物含树枝状大分子PAMAM .     

Globular carbohydrate macromolecule “sugar balls”, 2. Synthesis of mono(glycopeptide)-persubstituted dendrimers by polymer reaction with sugar-substituted α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (glycoNCAs)

Sugar-substituted α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (glycoNCAs), i.e., O-(tetra-O-acetyl-β-D -glucopyranosyl)-L -serine NCA (2a ) and O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-D -glucopyranosyl)-L -serine NCA (2b ), were successfully used for the introduction of a mono(glycopeptide) unit into each terminal primary amino group of a dendrimer. Well-defined dendrimer-based artificial glycoconjugates, O-(β-D -glucopyranosyl)-L -serine-persubstituted poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimer (3a ) and O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D -glucopyranosyl)-L -serine-persubstituted PAMAM dendrimer (3b ), were synthesized by polymer reaction of PAMAM dendrimer with 2a and 2b , respectively, followed by deacetylation with hydrazine monohydrate.     

树状大分子PAMAM(1G)-FCD的合成及荧光性能

合成了外围由小分子2-芴醛修饰的树状大分子PAMAM(1G)-FCD, 用IR, 1H NMR, MALDI-TOF-MS等手段表征了其结构, 并对其荧光性能及Sn2+对该性能的影响进行了研究, 结果表明, Sn2+能使化合物荧光显著增强. 紫外光谱表明, 随着PAMAM(1G)-FCD溶液中Sn2+浓度的增加, 体系在360 nm处出现了新的吸收峰, 表明二者之间存在化学反应. 故该树状分子有望作为难得的蓝光区荧光材料及金属-树状大分子杂化材料.     

Specific binding structures of dendrimers on lipid bilayer membranes

Dissipative particle dynamics simulations are used to study the specific binding structures of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers on amphiphilic membranes and the permeation mechanisms. Mutually consistent coarse-grained (CG) models both for PAMAM dendrimers and for dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) lipid molecules are constructed. The PAMAM CG model describes correctly the conformational behavior of the dendrimers, and the DMPC CG model can properly give the surface tension of the amphiphilic membrane. A series of systematic simulations is performed to investigate the binding structures of the dendrimers on membranes with varied length of the hydrophobic tails of amphiphiles. The permeability of dendrimers across membranes is enhanced upon increasing the dendrimer size (generation). The length of the hydrophobic tails of amphiphiles in turn affects the dendrimer conformation, as well as the binding structure of the dendrimer-membrane complexes. The negative curvature of the membrane formed in the dendrimer-membrane complexes is related to dendrimer concentration. Higher dendrimer concentration together with increased dendrimer generation is observed to enhance the permeability of dendrimers across the amphiphilic membranes.     

Copper-free click conjugation of methotrexate to a PAMAM dendrimer platform

The synthesis of a generation 5 (G5) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer platform having cyclooctyne ligands that were subsequently be used for a copper-free Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click reaction) with azido modified methotrexate is described. The G5 PAMAM dendrimer was first partially (70%) acetylated and then coupled with 20 cyclooctyne ligands through amide bonds. The remaining primary amine groups on the dendrimer surface were neutralized by acetylation. The platform was then ‘clicked’ with different numbers (5, 10, and 17) of γ-azido functionalized methotrexate. The copper-free click reactions were stoichiometric with excellent yields.     

细胞膜仿生修饰树枝状聚酰胺-胺的研究

利用2-丙烯酰氧基乙基磷酸胆碱的双键与树枝状聚酰胺-胺表面的氨基进行Michael加成反应,实现树枝状聚酰胺-胺表面的磷酸胆碱仿生修饰,修饰过程用FTIR、1H-NMR进行了表征.体外细胞活性测定和细胞形貌观察证实磷酸胆碱仿生修饰有效地改善了聚酰胺-胺树枝状聚合物的生物相容性;修饰后的聚酰胺-胺树枝状聚合物表面剩余的氨基仍然可以有效的与DNA复合,有可能作为一种潜在的基因载体得到广泛应用.     

Enhancing amine terminals in an amine-deprived collagen matrix

Collagen, though widely used as a core biomaterial in many clinical applications, is often limited by its rapid degradability which prevents full exploitation of its potential in vivo. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer, a highly branched macromolecule, possesses versatile multiterminal amine surface groups that enable them to be tethered to collagen molecules and enhance their potential. In this study, we hypothesized that incorporation of PAMAM dendrimer in a collagen matrix through cross-linking will result in a durable, cross-linked collagen biomaterial with free -NH 2 groups available for further multi-biomolecular tethering. The aim of this study was to assess the physicochemical properties of a G1 PAMAM cross-linked collagen matrix and its cellular sustainability in vitro. Different amounts of G1 PAMAM dendrimer (5 or 10 mg) were integrated into bovine-derived collagen matrices through a cross-linking process, mediated by 5 or 25 mM 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) in 5 mM N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and 50 mM 2-morpholinoethane sulfonic acid buffer at pH 5.5. The physicochemical properties of resultant matrices were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), collagenase degradation assay, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and ninhydrin assay. Cellular sustainability of the matrices was assessed with Alamar Blue assay and SEM. There was no significant difference in cellular behavior between the treated and nontreated groups. However, the benefit of incorporating PAMAM in the cross-linking reaction was limited when higher concentrations of either agent were used. These results confirm the hypothesis that PAMAM dendrimer can be incorporated in the collagen cross-linking process in order to modulate the properties of the resulting cross-linked collagen biomaterial with free -NH 2 groups available for multi-biomolecular tethering.     

Dendrimer building toolkit: Model building and characterization of various dendrimer architectures

We have developed a graphical user interface based dendrimer builder toolkit (DBT) which can be used to generate the dendrimer configuration of desired generation for various dendrimer architectures. The validation of structures generated by this tool was carried out by studying the structural properties of two well known classes of dendrimers: ethylenediamine cored poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer, diaminobutyl cored poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrimer. Using full atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulation we have calculated the radius of gyration, shape tensor and monomer density distribution for PAMAM and PPI dendrimer at neutral and high pH. A good agreement between the available simulation and experimental (small angle X‐ray and neutron scattering; SAXS, SANS) results and calculated radius of gyration was observed. With this validation we have used DBT to build another new class of nitrogen cored poly(propyl ether imine) dendrimer and study it's structural features using all atomistic MD simulation. DBT is a versatile tool and can be easily used to generate other dendrimer structures with different chemistry and topology. The use of general amber force field to describe the intra‐molecular interactions allows us to integrate this tool easily with the widely used molecular dynamics software AMBER. This makes our tool a very useful utility which can help to facilitate the study of dendrimer interaction with nucleic acids, protein and lipid bilayer for various biological applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

PAMAM dendrimer composite membrane for CO2 separation: Formation of a chitosan gutter layer

A poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer composite membrane with an excellent CO₂/N₂ separation factor was developed in-situ. The In-situ Modification (IM) method was used to modify the surface of commercial porous membranes, such as ultrafiltration membranes, to produce a gas selective layer by controlling the interface precipitation of the membrane materials in the state of a received membrane module. Using the IM method, a chitosan layer was prepared on the inner surface of a commercially available ultrafiltration membrane as a gutter layer, in order to affix PAMAM dendrimer molecules on the porous substrate. After chitosan treatment, the PAMAM dendrimer was impregnated into the gutter layer to form a PAMAM/chitosan hybrid layer. The CO₂ separation performance of the resulting composite membrane was tested at a pressure difference of 100 kPa and a temperature of 40 °C, using a mixed CO₂ (5 vol%)/N₂ (95 vol%) feed gas. The PAMAM dendrimer composite membrane, with a gutter layer prepared from ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether and a 0.5 wt% chitosan solution of two different molecular weight chitosans, revealed an excellent CO₂/N₂ separation factor and a CO₂ permeance of 400 and 1.6 × 10⁻⁷ m³ (STP) m⁻² s⁻¹ kPa⁻¹, respectively. SEM observations revealed a defect-free chitosan layer (thickness 200 nm) positioned directly beneath the top surface of the UF membrane substrate. After PAMAM dendrimer treatment, the hybrid chitosan/PAMAM dendrimer layer was observed with a thickness of 300 nm. XPS analysis indicated that the hybrid layer contained about 20–40% PAMAM dendrimer.     

Starburst pamam dendrimers: Synthetic approaches,surface modifications,and biomedical applications

Dendrimers are having novel three dimensional, synthetic hyperbranched, nano-polymeric structure. Among all of the dendrimers, Poly-amidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer are used enormously applying materials in supramolecular chemistry. This review described the structure, characteristic, synthesis, toxicity, and surface modification of PAMAM dendrimer. Various strategies in supramolecular chemistry of PAMAM for synthesizing it at commercial and laboratory scales along with their limitations and applications has also discussed. When compared to other nano polymers, the characteristics of supramolecular PAMAM dendrimers in nanopolymer science has shown significant achievement in transporting drugs for molecular targeted therapy, particularly in host–guest reaction. It also finds its applications in gene transfer devices and imaging of biological systems with minimum cytotoxicity. From that viewpoint, this review has elaborated the structural and safety aspect of PAMAM for targeted drug delivery with pharmaceuticals in addition to the biomedical application.     

New method of identifying morphine in urine samples using nanoparticle-dendrimer-enzyme hybrid system

The incorporation of morphine (MOR) into the nanoparticle structure is a viable alternative to traditional enzyme usage. It has good biological potential to separate MOR from real urine samples. In this study, a new method of MOR identification in real urine samples was synthesized using the β-glucuronidase-dendrimer poly amidoamine (PAMAM) enzyme hybrid system. Replacing MOR in dendrimer cavities significantly reduces enzyme consumption. The replacement technique is done in dendrimer cavities in two stages as an alternative to β-glucuronidase enzyme and even MOR. In this paper, firstly, PAMAM dendrimer G2 was synthesized based on silica. The β-glucuronidase enzyme was replaced inside its dendrimer cavities and the compound was released into a real urine sample containing MOR. The enzyme was extracted from dendrimer cavities. The MOR- β-glucuronidase enzyme bond broke. In the next stage of the process, free MOR entered the PAMAM dendrimer G2 cavities. MOR was detected in real urine samples.     

Direct force measurements between adlayers consisting of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers with primary amino groups or quaternary ammonium groups

Adsorption of poly(amidoamine) generation 3 (PAMAM G3) dendrimer with surface amino groups or PAMAM G0 dendrimer with quaternary ammonium groups (C8qbG0) onto glass has been studied by colloidal probe atomic force microscopy. The adlayer-adlayer interactions for these adsorbates are quite different despite the fact that they are almost equal in the hydrodynamic radius. In aqueous PAMAM G3 dendrimer solutions the electrostatic repulsion is predominant. The conformation of the adsorbed layer is flat and the protrusion of the individual dendrimers is negligible. On the other hand, C8qbG0 behaves as a surfactant and the layered structure of C8qbG0 is expected to be a patchy bilayer. Dispersion stability of silica suspensions with the adsorption of these dendrimers can be correlated with the force data obtained.     

Antioxidant action by gold-PAMAM dendrimer nanocomposites

Gold-dendrimer nanocomposites were prepared in the presence of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer (generation 3, 3.5, 5, and 5.5) via reduction of HAuCl4 with sodium borohydride. The average particle size of the gold nanoparticles was independent of the dendrimer concentration, ranging between 3.0 and 4.3 nm in diameter. The catalytic activities of the gold-dendrimer nanocomposites upon elimination of hydroxyl radicals formed in an H2O2/FeSO4 system were examined using a spin-trapping method. The gold-dendrimer nanocomposites exhibited high catalytic activities which were hardly affected by the concentration and the generation of the dendrimer except PAMAM dendrimer 3.5. The highest activity for the gold-PAMAM dendrimer 3.5 nanocomposites was 85 times that of ascorbic acid.     

牛血清白蛋白-PAMAM修饰的开管毛细管电色谱柱的制备

将树枝状大分子PAMAM键合到毛细管电色谱柱中, 然后在其端基上键合配体牛血清白蛋白(BSA), 利用BSA-G3.0-PAMAM键合柱成功地分离了D,L-色氨酸.