Nanometric sponges made of water-soluble hydrophobic dendrimers.
The behavior of a fifth generation phosphorus dendrimer having a hydrophobic interior and hydrophilic end groups is studied in solution in water using the pulsed-field gradient spin-echo NMR technique. Addition of THF to this solution induces dramatic changes concerning the size of the dendrimer (+150% in volume), T1 relaxation of THF, and viscosity. This dendrimer behaves like a highly singular nanotool, able both to modify its environment and to be modified by it.
Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination CNRS, 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.
Julien
J
Leclaire
Yannick
Y
Coppel
Anne-Marie
AM
Caminade
Jean-Pierre
JP
Majoral