Molecular characteristics of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers as studied with translational diffusion and viscometry

Abstract

 The generation of dendrimers based on poly(propylene imine) with CN end groups [DAB–dend–(CN) _x ] and with palmitoyl end groups [DAB–dend–(C15) _x ] was studied by methods of translational diffusion and viscometry. The volumes of the DAB–dend–(CN) _x and DAB–dend–(C15) _x dendrimers and the previously studied DAB–dend–(lacto) _x dendrimer were compared to evaluate the volumes of the end groups in hybrid dendrimers. The volume of the hybrid dendrimers compared to that of the initial dendrimers increases proportionally to the number of end groups: this means that the end groups are predominantly located on the periphery of each molecule, thus ensuring this volume will increase. It is shown that the volume of the end groups for DAB–dend–(C15) _x is 3.5 times greater, and for DAB–dend–(lacto) _x it is 5.0 times greater than that occupied by free mole- cules corresponding to the end groups. The values of the intrinsic viscosity were compared with the values of the diffusion coefficient and the chemical formula molecular weight.