Characterization of folic acid-PAMAM conjugates: drug loading efficacy and dendrimer morphology

J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2018 May;36(7):1918-1924. doi: 10.1080/07391102.2017.1341339. Epub 2017 Jun 28.

Abstract

We report the loading efficacy of folic acid (FA) by polyamidoamine (PAMAM-G3 and PAMAM-G4) nanoparticles in aqueous solution at physiological pH. Thermodynamic parameters ΔH = -47.57 (kJ Mol-1), ΔS = -122.78 (J Mol-1, K-1) and ΔG = -10.96 (kJ Mol-1) showed FA-PAMAM bindings occur via H-bonding and van der Waals contacts. The stability of acid-PAMAM conjugate increased as polymer size increased. The acid loading efficacy was 40 to 50%. TEM images exhibited major polymer morphological changes upon acid encapsulation. PAMAM dendrimers are capable of FA delivery in vitro.

Keywords: TEM; conjugation; dendrimer; folic acid; loading efficacy; modeling; thermodynamic.

MeSH terms

  • Dendrimers / chemistry*
  • Folic Acid / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nylons / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Polyamines / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / methods
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / methods
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Dendrimers
  • Nylons
  • PAMAM Starburst
  • PAMAM-G4
  • Poly(amidoamine)
  • Polyamines
  • Polymers
  • Folic Acid