title: Characterization of heterogeneously functionalized dendrimers by mass spectrometry and EPR spectroscopy.
abstract: Starburst dendrimers are receiving considerable attention as templates for the assembly of structured arrays of molecular components. This research motivates the development of improved methods for dendrimer characterization-specifically, for determining the numbers, distributions of numbers, and spatial distribution of molecular species synthetically attached to macromolecular templates. Such information provides the basis for advancing strategies aimed at controlling dendrimer functionalization, and thus represents enabling technology for tailoring the composition and structure of molecular arrays fashioned on dendrimer templates. Moreover, this information is vital to the proper interpretation of ongoing experiments in which dendrimers sparsely functionalized with reporter groups are used as probes. In this article, we report MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and EPR spectroscopy of heterogeneously functionalized G(4)-PAMAM dendrimers bearing nitroxide spin-labels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, OpTeC, and Center for Bioinspired Nanomaterials, 108 Gaines Hall, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Karl B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Sebby
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Usselman
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Singel
authors.forename: Mary J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cloninger
mesh_terms: D050091:Dendrimers; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011073:Polyamines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; C104700:PAMAM Starburst; D011073:Polyamines