Dendrimer Basics

Dendrimers are spheroid or globular nanostructures that are

precisely engineered to carry molecules encapsulated in their interior
void spaces or attached to the surface. Size, shape, and reactivity are
determined by generation (shells) and chemical composition of the
core, interior branching, and surface functionalities. Dendrimers are
constructed through a set of repeating chemical synthesis
procedures that build up from the molecular level to the nanoscale
region under conditions that are easily performed in a standard
organic chemistry laboratory. The dendrimer diameter increases
linearly whereas the number of surface groups increases
geometrically. Dendrimers are very uniform with extremely low
polydispersities, and are commonly created with dimensions
incrementally grown in approximately nanometer steps from 1 to over
10nm. The control over size, shape, and surface functionality makes
dendrimers one of the “smartest” or customizable nanotechnologies
commercially available.
 General Structure of Dendrimers

4 nm

Core
• Small molecules
Void Spaces
• Nanoparticles
Room for Molecular Cargo
• Other dendrimers
• Polymers

Interior Branching
• Robust, covalent structure
• Connects core to surface groups

Surface Groups
• Cationic, Anionic, Neutral, & Hydrophobic
• Biocompatible
• Target-directing groups
• Dyes & Biomarkers

Dendrimer Diagram: a G3 Dendrimer

 Dendritic Effects

Surfaces
• Glass
• Gold
• Silica
• Plastics

Dendrimers provide polyvalent interactions between surfaces and

bulk materials for applications such as adhesives, surface
coatings, or polymer cross-linking.
 General Attributes
Dendrimers are recognized as one of
the major commercially available
nanoscale building blocks.
Nanotechnology encompasses sizes
that are much larger than most
molecules but much smaller than cells.
Dendrimers are so versatile that they
can be synthesized to the same
dimensions as bimolecular such as
hemoglobin

Dendrimer nomenclature,
properties, and graphical
representations.

Dendrimer diameters increase

linearly per generation, whereas
the number of surface groups
increases geometrically.
Periodic Properties of Dendrimers

Central Michigan University physics professor Valeri Petkov

and coworkers used X-ray diffraction to determine the 3-D structure
a G7 PAMAM dendrimer. By looking at a slice they were able
to show holes 5 -15Åin diameter.

3-D structure of a “slice” of dendrimer shows

G7 PAMAM dendrimer holes of 5-15A diameter
Visualization of STARBURST®
Dendrimers by TEM

Electrophoresis of STARBURST®
Dendrimers with Various Cores
(Generation 0--6)
 Contact Information

General Information
- Phone: (989) 774-4199
- Fax: (989) 774-2322
- info@dnanotech.com

Sales
- Phone: (989) 774-6565
- Fax: (989) 774-2322
- sales@dnanotech.com

Partnerships
- Phone: (989) 774-6565
- Fax: (989) 774-2322
- info@dnanotech.com

Delivery Information
All dendrimers are delivered in either 10 or 20 wt %
In methanol or water. At request, products can be
delivered in another solvent or dried for an extra fee.