Some new aspects of dendrimer applications

Abstract

Dendrimers are characterized by special features that make them promising candidates for many applications. Here we focus on two such applications: dendrimers as light harvesting antennae, and dendrimers as molecular amplifiers, which may serve as novel platforms for drug delivery. Both applications stem from the unique structure of dendrimers. We present a theoretical framework based on the master equation within which we describe these applications. The quantities of interest are the first passage time (FPT) probability density function (PDF), and its moments. We examine how the FPT PDF and its characteristics depend on the geometric and energetic structures of the dendrimeric system. In particular, we investigate the dependence of the FPT properties on the number of generations (dendrimer size), and the system bias. We present analytical expressions for the FPT PDF for very efficient dendrimeric antennae and for dendrimeric amplifiers. For these cases the mean first passage time scales linearly with the system length, and fluctuations around the mean first passage time are negligible for large systems. Relationships of the FPT to light harvesting process for other types of system-bias are discussed.

The design and synthesis of a novel 1,8-naphthalimide PAMAM light-harvesting dendron with fluorescence “off-on” switching core

“…Progress in the study of natural photosynthetic systems has provided the impetus to design artificial light harvesting assemblies based on a variety of architectures [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Dendritic light harvesting assemblies have also attracted much attention because of their unique structures, which are reminiscent of those of natural light-harvesting complexes [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. Collecting light by antenna systems may also be useful for signal amplification in luminescence sensors.…”

Dendrimers as potential platform in nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems

“…Traditionally, the dendrimers are synthesized by branching units, the monomers ABn, which results in a symmetrical with the end groups B [17]. The constituents of dendrimers have ABn n ≥ 2, but typically n = 2 and 3, in other words after each addition of monomers which are arranged in layers around the dendrimer, can be double or triple the number of peripheral groups [18,19,20].…”

Influence of geometry on light harvesting in dendrimeric systems. II. nth-nearest neighbor effects and the onset of percolation

“…The class of molecules known as dendrimers has been studied extensively in recent years [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] and this study has led to a variety of applications. Within the context of molecular recognition [10], applications include utilizing a large dendrimer to encapsulate a guest molecule, which is then released by triggering some external stimulus, e.g.…”

“…Dendrimers have been studied as molecular wires because the branching is shown to improve the efficiency of electron transfer [16,17]. Of particular interest in this study is their use as light-harvesting complexes and artificial antennae in the context of energy storage and transfer [1][2][3].…”