pH-Dependent Encapsulation of Pyrene in PPI-Core:PAMAM-Shell Dendrimers

Core-shell dendrimers consisting of poly(propyleneimine) (PPI) dendrimer as a core and poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrons as a shell have been synthesized through the route of Michael addition reaction followed by amidation. These macromolecules were investigated their ability to solubilize a guest molecule, pyrene. The number of encapsulated pyrene molecules per dendrimer increased with pH of a solution and generation (G) of PAMAM dendron, and it reached 2.7 for PPI(G3)-core:PAMAM(G3)-shell dendrimer at pH 11. It was confirmed that the solubilized pyrene located in the hydrophobic nanocavities of the PPI dendrimer core in the dendrimer. The shrunk PAMAM dendron shell should play a role of retention fence of doped molecules.