 |
Birsen's Project Page - RISE Summer 2008 |
 |
Intern: Birsen Varisli, Chemistry, Jackson State University
Mentor: Anzarul Khan
Faculty Supervisor: Craig Hawker
Department: Materials |
SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL DENDRIMER FOR DRUG DELIVERY
A supramolecular dendrimer-peptide conjugate is being designed for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. The
designed non-polar alkyl branches are at the periphery of the dendrimer. This will act as a nanotemplate for the
organization of peptide amphiphiles. This self-organization will lead to the formation of spherical assemblies in
which the peptide will contain the recognition elements as well as drug molecules. Meanwhile, the dendrimer will
act as a scaffold as well as a delivery vehicle. The synthesis of the dendrimer involves multiple efficient thiolene
photoreactions under environmentally friendly conditions. Sequently, anhydride coupling reactions are performed to
functionalize the dendrimer. The thiolene reactions are demonstrated to be very efficient (quantitative yields) and
robust. The product purification requires only precipitation in a non-solvent that leads to isolation of products with
high purity. The anhydride coupling reactions are also efficient and high yielding reaction. A generation 3 based
dendrimer containing thiododecyl chains at the periphery will be synthesized and the self-assembly behavior of the
supramolecular conjugate will be investigated in detail.
Return to the RISE 2008 project list
