Non-Covalent and Macromolecular Approaches to Study Protein Binding, Drug Delivery and Artificial Blood

To begin with, macromolecules consisting of poly(amido)amine dendrimers(PAMAM),polyglycidol,hyperbranched poly(amido)amine (HYPAM) were synthesized and characterized extensively. Porphyrins were also synthesized, characterized and modified in line with respective studies. Hereafter, surface modified TRIS PAMAM dendrimers and its analogs (hyperbranched polymers, hyperbranched PAMAMs) as potential drug delivery systems were studied with the use of model drugs (Ibuprofen and Porphyrin). Analogs of the model drugs were used to investigate the role of secondary interactions for high drug loading(s). UV-Vis Spectroscopy was utilized for studying and determining the maximum loading of the macromolecules under investigation. Further ahead, non-covalent approaches to improve dendrimer-protein binding were used by introducing amino acid chains as targeting groups on the dendrimer surface. Surface modified carboxylate PAMAM dendrimers were studied for their ability to bind with zinc metallated porphyrin. UV-Vis and Fluorescence Spectroscopy were used for protein binding studies. Lastly, Surface Crosslinked Micelles were synthesized and utilized as artificial blood mimics with an attempt to increase the half-life of encapsulated iron porphyrin acting as the heme mimic with the help of UV-Vis Spectroscopy.