Molecular modeling of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) Starburst (TM) dendrimers

Highly organized polymeric structures known as Starburst(TM) dendrimers hav e been subjected to qualitative structural evaluation using molecular model ing tools. These molecules are becoming increasingly important in several d ifferent fields ranging from drug delivery to applications in selective ads orption and catalysis, and even as chromatographic materials and adsorbents . Our studies suggest that low generation dendrimers are somewhat asymmetri c and that the modification of the dendrimers with molecules such as porphy rins, may lead to the reduced accessibility of other surface groups thus li miting further modification. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.