PPV-PAMAM Hybrid Dendrimers: Self-Assembly and Stabilization of Gold Nanoparticles

Different generations of PPV-PAMAM hybrid dendrimers have been prepared and characterized. Our initial studies showed the high tendency of these materials to aggregate and form nanoassemblies in different media. Nile Red experiments and DLS measurements allowed us to determine the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and the size of the aggregates, which have also been used to stabilize small gold nanoparticles. The nanoparticles influence the assembly and optical properties of the dendrimer molecules and lead to strong quenching of their intrinsic fluorescence. Nevertheless, these gold particles will be very useful as biomarkers in living cells by means of electron microscopy because of their high electron contrast.