High-Resolution Imaging of Polyethylene Glycol Coated Dendrimers via Combined Atomic Force and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Dendrimers have shown great promise as drug delivery vehicles in recent years because they can be synthesized with designed size and functionalities for optimal transportation, targeting, and biocompatibility. One of the most well-known termini used for biocompatibility is polyethylene glycol (PEG), whose performance is affected by its actual conformation. However, the conformation of individual PEG bound to soft materials such as dendrimers has not been directly observed. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), this work characterizes the structure adopted by PEGylated dendrimers with the highest resolution reported to date. AFM imaging enables visualization of the individual dendrimers, as well as the differentiation and characterization of the dendrimer core and PEG shell. STM provides direct imaging of the PEG extensions with high-resolution. Collectively, this investigation provides important insight into the structure of coated dendrimers, which is crucial for the design and development of better drug delivery vehicles.
Source: Journal of Drug Delivery
DOI: 10.1155/2015/535683
Institutions: University of California, Davis, Wayne State University
Language: English
Subfield: Polymers and Plastics
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Awards: Pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler Formulations for the Pulmonary Delivery of Nanotherapeutics to and through the Lungs, Size-Dependent Surface Chemistry at Nanometer Scale, G4122657013, Chemical and Nanoengineering Regulation of Inter-molecular Electron Transport in Organic Semiconductor Thin Films, G862535192
OpenAlex ID: W2090940051