Dense-shell glycodendrimers: UV/Vis and electron paramagnetic resonance study of metal ion complexation

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society. A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences Vol. 466; no. 2117; pp. 1489 - 1513
• Main Authors: Appelhans, Dietmar, Oertel, Ulrich, Mazzeo, Roberto, Komber, Hartmut, Hoffmann, Jan, Weidner, Steffen, Brutschy, Bernhard, Voit, Brigitte, Francesca Ottaviani, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 08-05-2010; The Royal Society Publishing
• Subjects: Copper; Dendrimers; Electron paramagnetic resonance; Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Study; Glycodendrimers; Ligands; Line spectra; Magnetic fields; Materials; Metal Ion Complexation; Metal Ion-Intradendrimer Complexes; Metal ions; Nitrogen; Scaffolds; Special Feature; Special features
• ISSN: 1364-5021; 1471-2946
• DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2009.0107

The development of dendritic metal ion carrier systems for use in a biological environment is a challenging task as the carrier system must possess multiple features (e.g. a protective shell for metal decomplexation, targeting functions, metal-intradendrimer complexes, etc.) to substitute for the function of metal proteins in processes such as copper metabolism. Thus, Cu(II) complexation by a series of poly(propyleneimine) glycodendrimers ranging up to the fifth generation that have either a dense maltose or maltotriose shell was investigated by UV/Vis spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). As a necessary step towards potential biological application, we elucidated the complexation capacity, location of the Cu(II)-dendrimer complexes and the Cu(II) coordination sphere in the dendritic environment. A generation-dependent Cu(II) complexation was found. Furthermore, analysis of the EPR spectra revealed that internal and external Cu(II) coordination and the symmetry (axial and rhombic) of the generated complexes depend on the oligosaccharide shell, dendrimer generation and the relative concentrations of Cu(II) and the dendrimers. Both axial and rhombic symmetries are generation dependent, but also distort with increasing generation number. External coordination of Cu(II) is supported by sugar groups and water molecules. Finally, a third-generation dendrimer with a maltose shell was used to explore the general complexation behaviour of the dendritic poly(propyleneimine) scaffold towards different metal ions [Cu(II), Ag(I), VO(IV), Ni(II), Eu(III) and UO2(VI)].