Self-assembly of the complexes of DNA with PAMAM dendrimers

POLY 114

Chun-Jen Su, d923609@oz.nthu.edu.tw1, H-L Chen1, U-Sen Jen2, H-K Lin3, and W-L Liu3. (1) Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, (2) National Synchroton Radiation Research Center Hsin-Chu, Taiwan, (3) Industrial Technology Research Institute, Chutung, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
In this study, we investigate the self-assembly behavior of the complexes of DNA with poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) G2 and G3 dendrimers. The mesomorphic structures of the complexes were probed by means of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) as a function of the dendrimer-to-DNA molar ratio and the degree of protonation (dp) of the dendrimer. It will be shown that the complexation resulted in DNA condensation through which the dendrimer-bound DNA chains aggregated significantly to form hexagonal columnar, square columnar or disordered columnar phases, governed by these two parameters and dendrimer generation number.The nanostructure of the complex, including the type of lattice, the interhelical and the geometry of dendrimer molecules, were found to be dependent on x, dp and dendrimer generation number. The electrostatic attraction between dendrimer and DNA and the repulsion between DNA chains themselves were the keys governing the lattice packing.
 

General Papers: Functional Materials
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Sunday, August 19, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Division of Polymer Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007