Epoxy Activation of Amine-Dendrimers

The following protocol is based on the method of Singh (1998). Other amine-containing dendrimers besides the PAMAM type, such as the PrioStar dendrimers from Dendritic Nanotechnologies may be used as well. 

Dissolve a dendrimer in 50 percent methanol/water at a concentration of at least lOmg/ml. Singh (1998) used about 165mg of a G-5 PAMAM dendrimer dissolved in 1 ml of the alcohol/water mixture. Use a fume hood for all operations. 

Add 200 mg of sodium carbonate per ml of the dendrimer solution prepared in step 1 and a quantity of epibromohydrin equal to a 285-fold molar excess over the amount of 

React for 4 hours with mixing in a fume hood. 

Dilute the reaction mixture 10-fold with 50 percent methanol/water and purify the epoxy-activated dendrimer by repeated ultrafiltration using a membrane with a molecular 

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