New insights into the interactions between dendrimers and surfactants by two dimensional NOE NMR spectroscopy

The interactions between polyamidoamine dendrimers and different surfactants including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide in aqueous solutions have been investigated by a NOESY NMR technique. Strong NOE cross-peaks between hydrophobic chain protons of SDS and methylene protons of cationic dendrimers were found, suggesting a strong tendency for the long hydrophobic tails of SDS to associate with the hydrophobic pockets of dendrimers. The hydrophilic head of SDS localizes near the core or the boundary of each generation of dendrimers, and the hydrophobic chain of SDS localizes in the relative nonpolar pockets of dendrimers. The encapsulation of surfactant monomers by dendrimers is dependent on the charge type of the surfactants, the surface functionality, and the generation of dendrimers. The NOESY analysis provides a new insight into interactions between dendrimers and surfactants in comparison with previous investigations.