Conformation and distribution of groups on the surface of amphiphilic polyether-co-polyester dendrimers: effect of...

Amphiphilic polyester-co-polyether (PEPE) dendrimers synthesized from poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were examined to understand the influence of alterations in the architecture of dendrimers on their conformation at interfaces and distribution of various groups on their surface. Effect of changes in the number of branching points, type of terminal functional groups and generation of dendrimer was primarily evaluated. Dendrimers were deposited on mica by spin coating at 0.1 mg/mL. Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed for the visualization of dendrimer topographies while, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), AFM phase and force imaging were used as the tools for characterization of their surfaces. Individual dendrimer molecules could be imaged by AFM, which showed that they are round or oval in topography. Dendrimers were also flattened on mica but the extent of flattening differed with the chemical structure; for instance, third generation dendrimers were more flattened than second generation dendrimers whereas, dendrimers with higher number of branches had greater height above the mica surface. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups present towards the aerial interface existed in distinct zones rather than being distributed randomly, except in dendrimer with higher number of branches. The percentage of various hydrophobic groups on the surface of dendrimer was enhanced by increase in the number of branches but, was lowered by the presence of hydroxyl groups as the pendant terminal groups. Furthermore, the core of dendrimers was not always located towards the centre, its position was found to be altered by the number of branching points, type of terminal functional groups and the generation of dendrimer.