Charge interaction in branched polymer nanosystems and application in drug delivery

A promising class of multi-functional macromolecules suitable for biological applications consists of the highly ramified (dendritic) polymers known as dendrimers. Because of their compact, tree-like molecular structure, dendrimers provide a source of surface functionality and interior void space, which makes well-suited for use as carrier molecules in drug delivery1. Their multivalent surface functionalities, in fact, can be linked to drug molecules or ligands in a well-defined manner thus increasing the binding efficiency or affinity of therapeutic molecules. These systems combine then the inclusion and transport properties of guest-host (drug carrier) systems, together with the increased stability of colloidal aggregates, and may be of interest as a promising class of nanomaterials suitable for advanced applications in the field of biotechnology and medicine. We present some recent results which show how the effective intra- and inter-dendrimer charge interactions, as well as the dendrimer solution environment conditions, are crucial parameters for the modulation of the degree of structural organization in solution, suitable for a number of potential applications in the field of biotechnology2. Results for the interaction of dendrimers with model membranes and relevant examples of charge interaction in bioinspired membranes will also be presented