Synthesis and Aqueous Aggregation
Properties of Amphiphilic Surface-Block
Dendrimers
Nathanael R. Luman andMark W. Grinstaff*
Departments of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering,
Metcalf Center for Science and Engineering, Boston University,
590 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02215
mgrin@bu.edu
Received July 6, 2005
Abstract:
A family of dendritic amphiphiles were synthesized from the natural metabolites of glycerol, succinic acid, and myristic acid. The surfaces of
these dendrimers display different numbers of alkyl chains and carboxylic acids, varying the hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic ratio over a relatively
broad range. In solution these dendritic amphiphiles form supramolecular structures, and these aggregates have been characterized by light
microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and tensiometry. These aggregates can entrap the hydrophobic species pyrene.
