title: Direct synthesis and morphological characterization of gold-dendrimer nanocomposites prepared using PAMAM succinamic acid dendrimers: preliminary study of the calcification potential.
abstract: Gold-dendrimer nanocomposites were obtained for the first time by a simple colloidal approach based on the use of polyamidoamine dendrimers with succinamic acid terminal groups and dodecanediamine core. Spherical and highly crystalline nanoparticles with dimensions between 3 nm and 60 nm, and size-polydispersity depending on the synthesis conditions, have been generated. The influence of the stoichiometric ratio and the structural and architectural features of the dendrimers on the properties of the nanocomposites has been described. The self-assembling behaviour of these materials produces gold-dendrimer nanostructured porous networks with variable density, porosity, and composition. The investigations of the reaction systems, by TEM, at two postsynthesis moments, allowed to preliminary establish the control over the properties of the nanocomposite products. Furthermore, this study allowed better understanding of the mechanism of nanocomposite generation. Impressively, in the early stages of the synthesis, the organization of gold inside the dendrimer molecules has been evidenced by micrographs. Growth and ripening mechanisms further lead to nanoparticles with typical characteristics. The potential of such nanocomposite particles to induce calcification when coating a polymer substrate was also investigated.
authors.affiliation: METAV Research and Development, 31 C.A. Rosetti, Sector 2, 020015 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasile
authors.affiliation: Advanced Polymer Materials Group, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 149 Calea Victoriei, Sector 1, 010072 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serafim
authors.affiliation: Advanced Polymer Materials Group, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 149 Calea Victoriei, Sector 1, 010072 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petre
authors.affiliation: Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S4), 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giol
authors.affiliation: Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S4), 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubruel
authors.affiliation: Advanced Polymer Materials Group, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 149 Calea Victoriei, Sector 1, 010072 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iovu
authors.affiliation: Advanced Polymer Materials Group, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 149 Calea Victoriei, Sector 1, 010072 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Stancu
mesh_terms: D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; C104700:PAMAM Starburst; D006046:Gold