Self-assembly mechanism dendrimer polymers

Figure 10.6 (a) Schematic representation of the encapsulation and lysozyme release mechanism from carboxymethyl chitosan-grafted-poly(amidoamine) (CM-chitosan-PAMAM)/ lysozyme polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles, (b) Schematic representation of synthesis and self-assembling for CM-chitosan-PAMAM dendrimer nanoparticles, and the encapsulation and lysozyme release mechanism from CM-chitosan-PAMAM/lysozyme PIC nanoparticles. Reprinted from X. Zhang, J. Zhao, Y. Wen, C. Zhu.J. Yang, F. Yao, Carboxymethyl chitosan-poly(amidoamme) dendrimer core-shell nanoparticles for intracellular lysozyme dehvery, Carhohydrate Polymers 98 (2013) 1326-1334. Copyright (2013), with permission from Elsevier. 

The self-assembly of natural and synthetic multifunctional unimers occurs, in fact, by a combination of classical molecular recognition and growth mechanisms. Self-assembled, reversible structures include linear, helical, columnar, and tubular polymers micelles monolayers and three-dimensional phases and networks. Self-assembled systems based on an interplay between covalent chains and supramolecular interactions are also important. Typical examples are side-chain SPs (Chapter 5), host-guest polymeric composites and dendrimers (Chapters 2 and 7), polymers with mechanical bonds (Chapter 8), and block copolymers (Chapters 9-11). 

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