Search

Dendrons consisting of two phosphonate functions and three oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) chains grafted on a central phenoxyethylcarbamoylphenoxy group were synthesized and investigated as Langmuir monolayers at the surface of water. The OEG chain in the para position was grafted with a t -Bu end-group, a hydrocarbon chain, or a partially fluorinated chain. These dendrons are models of structurally related OEG dendrons that were found to significantly improve the stability of aqueous dispersions of iron oxide nanoparticles when grafted on their surface. Compression isotherms showed that all OEG dendrons formed liquid-expanded Langmuir monolayers at large molecular areas. Further compression led to a transition ascribed to the solubilization of the OEG chains in the aqueous phase. Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) provided evidence that the dendrons fitted with hydrocarbon chains formed liquid-expanded monolayers throughout compression, whilst those fitted with fluorinated end-groups formed crystalline-like domains, even at large molecular areas. Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and dendron molecules were partially miscible in monolayers. The deviations to ideality were larger for the dendrons fitted with a fluorocarbon end-group chain than for those fitted with a hydrocarbon chain. Brewster angle microscopy and atomic force microscopy supported the view that the dendrons were ejected from the phospholipid monolayer during the OEG conformational transition and formed crystalline domains on the surface of the monolayer.

A new dendritic manganese(II) chelate 1 has been evaluated by in vivo (relaxivity) and in vitro (toxicity and relaxivity) experiments as a manganese enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) contrast agent. Also, a comparison with its corresponding gadolinium(III) homologue 2 and the commercially available MEMRI agent MnDPDP (Teslascan, Amersham Health) was achieved in order to determine respectively the real influence of the paramagnetic ion in terms of toxicity and relaxivity for this precise treelike structure and the potential of 1 to be a favorable candidate for brain-targeting MRI. Complexes 1 and 2 displayed high hydrosolubility (0.1 M) and revealed no in vitro neuronal toxicity at concentrations as high as 1 mM. Considering manganese(II) complex 1, the in vivo nontoxicity at 20 mM (100% rats survival) is very likely due to a slow diffusion of the compound, meaning a controlled release of the paramagnetic ions. Finally, T(1) relaxivity of 4.2 mM(-1).s(-1) for 2 and T(2) relaxivity of 17.4 mM(-1).s(-1) for 1 at 4.7 T were measured and are higher than that of the commercial MRI contrast agents GdDTPA and MnDPDP, respectively.

Cationic lipids and polymers are routinely used for cell transfection, and a variety of structure-activity relation data have been collected. Few studies, however, focus on the structural aspects of self-assembly as a crucial control parameter for gene delivery. We present here the observations collected for a set of cationic dendritic amphiphiles based on a stiff tolane core (1-4) that are built from identical subunits but differ in the number and balance of their hydrophobic and cationic hydrophilic moieties. We established elsewhere that vectors 3 and 4 have promising transfection properties. Scanning probe microscopy (AFM, STM), cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), and Langmuir techniques provide insight into the self-assembly properties of the molecules under physiological conditions. Furthermore, we present DNA and pH "jump" experiments where we study the response of Langmuir films to a sudden increase in DNA concentration or a drop in pH. We find that the primary self-assembly of the amphiphile is of paramount importance and influences DNA binding, serum sensitivity, and pH response of the vector system.

Abstract: Interest in contrast agent’s (CA) neurotoxicity has greatly increased due to the growing need of new compounds dedicated to brain imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) CA have been evaluated by means of different toxicological assays with cultured rat primary neurons (evaluation of neurite specific parameters via immunostaining of the cells and LDH leakage). To determine the potential neurotoxicity of a precise paramagnetic ion in a defined structure (architecture and molecular weight), novel hydrosoluble dendritic Manganese (II) and Gadolinium (III) complexes derived from diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) have been studied and compared to a linear homologue (same molecular weight) and commercially available low molecular weight MRI CA like Mn–DPDP (Teslascan, GE Healthcare) and Gd–DTPA (Magnevist, Schering). The range of CA concentrations studied was 0.1–10mM, suitable for MRI examinations. This set of experiments allows a toxicity ranking of these reagents as a function of molecular structure and nature of the paramagnetic ion. We could determine that the architecture (linear vs. dendritic) does not play an important role in the in vitro neurotoxicity, whereas the structure of the chelating cage is of greater importance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of dendritic DTPA-derived ligands and their corresponding gadolinium(III) complexes have been prepared and their spreading behaviour at the air–water interface has been investigated. The results show that these amphiphiles have the prerequisite qualities to form stable and reversible Langmuir monolayers opening the road to novel magnetic organic films. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Amphiphilic dendrimers with a C[sub 60] core have been obtained by cyclization of dendritic 1,3phenylenebis(methylene)-tethered bis-malonate derivatives at the carbon sphere. The relative position of the two cyclopropane rings in the resulting bis-methanofullerene derivatives has been determined based on the molecular symmetry (C[sub s]) deduced from the ¹H and [sup 13]C NMR spectra. The hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance of these dendrimers has been systematically modified by changing the size of the polar headgroup in order to investigate the role of the amphiphilicity both at the air-water interface and during deposition onto solid substrates. Langmuir studies have revealed a conformational change in the dendritic structure with the size of the polar headgroup. Because of a better anchoring onto the water surface, the compounds with the largest polar headgroup adopt a more compact structure and the dendritic branches are forced to wrap the fullerene core. This model is nicely confirmed by the amount of fullerene-fullerene interactions within the Langmuir-Blodgett films as deduced from their absorption spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the amphiphilic diblock dendrimers in Langmuir and Langmuir--Blodgett Films. Preparation of dendron; Substitution of resulting globular dendrimer with hydrophobic chains; Relevance of dendrimers in the transfer of the Langmuir films.