The characterization of high generation poly(amidoamine) G9 dendrimers by atomic force microscopy (AFM)

Scanning force microscopy (AFM) has been employed to characterize the gener ation-9 (G9) poly-(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer packing on a mica surface under various conditions. Well ordered 2-D arrays from hexagonally packed p articles of PAMAM (G9) dendrimers (11.4nm in diameter) were deposited on th e mica surface. This may be one of the smallest regular monolayer arrays ev er observed. The mechanism considered to be responsible for this 2-D array packing is the interaction of forces between the dendrimer and the mica sur face and between dendrimer molecules as well. Other factors such as molecul ar interpenetrating and the rigidity of the branch structure obviously play an important rule in the 2-D array formation.