Synthesis of large dendrimers with the dimensions of small viruses

J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Mar 27;135(12):4660-3. doi: 10.1021/ja400432e. Epub 2013 Mar 13.

Abstract

The dendrimer chemistry reported offers a route to synthetic target molecules with spherical shape, well-defined surface chemistries, and dimensions that match the size of virus particles. The largest target, a generation-13 dendrimer comprising triazines linked by diamines, is stable across ranges of concentration, pH, temperature, solvent polarity and in the presence of additives. This dendrimer theoretically presents 16,384 surface groups and has a molecular weight exceeding 8.4 MDa. Transmission electron and atomic force microscopies, dynamic light scattering, and computations reveal a diameter of ~30 nm. The target was synthesized through an iterative divergent approach using a monochlorotriazine macromonomer providing two generations of growth per synthetic cycle. Fidelity in the synthesis is supported by evidence from NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and high-pressure liquid chromatography.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dendrimers / chemical synthesis*
  • Dendrimers / chemistry
  • Diamines / chemical synthesis*
  • Diamines / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Models, Molecular
  • Particle Size
  • Triazines / chemical synthesis*
  • Triazines / chemistry
  • Viruses / chemistry

Substances

  • Dendrimers
  • Diamines
  • Triazines