Controlling the number of dendrimers in dendrimicelle nanoconjugates from 1 to more than 100

Abstract

The study presents a facile strategy to controllably build up dendrimicelles by self-assembly of anionic PAMAM dendrimers with cationic–neutral diblock copolymers.

Dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticle-core micelles as a modular strategy for particle-in-a-box-in-a-box nanostructures

“…This acid-terminated PAMAM dendrimers, 17 both CSC and CMC are slightly improved, and in line with other micelle systems. 14 DLS results obtained over time ( Fig.…”

“…This deviation from the theoretical molar charge neutrality might be attributed to the known presence of defects in higher generation PAMAM dendrimers, resulting in fewer charged end-groups and hence observed charge-stoichiometry at lower charge fraction. 17,24,25 To investigate whether or not the presence of a nanoparticle inside a dendrimer affects the formation of dendrimicelles, we mixed Au 256 DENs with block copolymer at the previously determined PMC. DLS analysis showed that dendrimicelles formed and exhibited a similar size in solution as empty dendrimicelles.…”

“…These micelles contain 1-100 dendrimers per micelle, depending on the dendrimer generation used. 17 We here present a methodology in which gold nanoparticles in amine-terminated dendrimers, AuDENs, can form micelles by assembling with negative-neutral block copolymers to form a nanoparticle-in-a-box-in-a-box system (Scheme 1).…”

Soft Supramolecular Nanoparticles by Noncovalent and Host–Guest Interactions

“…Besides polymeric polyelectrolytes, dendrimeric structures such as poly(amidoamines) (PAMAMs) have also been used for the formation of SNPs stabilized by electrostatic interactions. Wang and co‐workers have shown that carboxylate‐terminated PAMAM dendrimers of different generations (0–9) and the cationic‐neutral diblock copolymers P2MVP 128 ‐ b ‐PEO 477 formed electrostatically stabilized micelles . Although the dendrimer size increases with generation, the resulting micellar size, structure, and number of incorporated block copolymers did not vary.…”

Cyclodextrin-based complex coacervate core micelles with tuneable supramolecular host–guest, metal-to-ligand and charge interactions

“…This suggested that (dendri)micelle formation depends on the number of charges per monomeric-unit in the core and that micelle stability increases with the increase in the number of charge-per-core units. 16 A further understanding of the formation and stability of C3Ms was achieved by including nanoparticles (NP) inside dendrimers, inside micelles, with a so-called box-in-a-box structure. 17,18 In this paper, we present a new class of coacervate-core micelles (see Scheme 1), called Cyclodextrin-based Complex Coacervate Core Micelles (C4Ms), in which the cyclodextrin is covalently tethered to a dipicolinic acid (CD-DPA) unit that can coordinate to metal ions.…”