Encapsulation of nanoparticles using linear-dendritic macromolecules

Benzyl alcohol and Rose Bengal were loaded and entrapped using linear-dendritic macromolecules by two procedures. In the first procedure, benzyl alcohol was attached to the end functional groups of linear-dendritic macromolecules by ester bonds to afford linear-dendritic-host conjugates. In the second procedure, entrapment was based on physical interactions between Rose Bengal and linear-dendritic macromolecules; this procedure is known as complexation method. Loading and binding capacity of different linear-dendritic macromolecules was investigated using H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and UV spectroscopy methods. It was found the loading or binding capacity of linear-dendritic macromolecules depends on their generation, so that higher generations have higher loading or binding capacity. Diameter of nanocarriers was investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments, and it was between 16 and 50 nm for different nanocarriers. Release of guest molecules from nanocarriers was evaluated at pH 1, 7.4, and 10.