Langmuir, Vol.16, No.21, 8182-8188, 2000
Polyion complex micelles encapsulating light-harvesting ionic dendrimer zinc porphyrins
Core-shell type micelles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 52 nm composed of 38 molecules of zinc dendrimer porphyrin with 32 carboxylate groups on the periphery and 39 poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lysine) (PEG-PLys) block copolymers were prepared at a stoichiometric mixing ratio. These micelles showed an unusually high stability against NaCl solutions due to the formation of hydrogen bonds at salt concentrations higher than 200 mM NaCl. In contrast, large aggregates of 250-300 nm diameter of a zinc dendrimer porphyrin were formed with 32 positively charged trimethylammonium groups and poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(aspartic acid) (PEG-PAsp) black copolymer. These aggregates lack the ability to form hydrogen bonds and almost completely dissociate at salt concentrations higher than 200 mM. Both polyion dendrimer micelle systems showed a high stability upon dilution with 150 mM NaCl without a critical association concentration being observed. Both polyion dendrimer micelle complexes have potential to be used as drug delivery systems for Light-harvesting ionic zinc dendrimer porphyrin sensitizers.