Glycodendrimers are a novel group of dendrimers (DDMs) characterized by surface modifications with various types of glycosides. It has been shown previously that such modifications significantly decrease the cytotoxicity of DDMs. Here, we present an investigation of glucose-modified carbosilane DDMs (first-third-generation, DDM1-3Glu) interactions with two models of biological structures: lipid membranes (liposomes) and serum protein (human serum albumin, HSA). The changes in lipid membrane fluidity with increasing concentration of DDMs was monitored by spectrofluorimetry and calorimetry methods. The influence of glycodendrimers on serum protein was investigated by monitoring changes in protein fluorescence intensity (fluorescence quenching) and as protein secondary structure alterations by circular dichroism spectrometry. Generally, all generations of DDMGlu induced a decrease of membrane fluidity and interacted weakly with HSA. Interestingly, in contrast to other dendritic type polymers, the extent of the DDM interaction with both biological models was not related to DDM generation. The most significant interaction with protein was shown in the case of DDM2Glu, whereas DDM1Glu induced the highest number of changes in membrane fluidity. In conclusion, our results suggest that the flexibility of a DDM molecule, as well as its typical structure (hydrophobic interior and hydrophilic surface) along with the formation of larger aggregates of DDM2-3Glu, significantly affect the type and extent of interaction with biological structures.

Department of General Biophysics Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection University of Lodz Lodz Poland

Department of Physical Chemistry University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Technická 5 CZ 166 28 Prague 6 Czech Republic

Faculty of Science Jan Evangelista Purkinje University Usti nad Labem Czech Republic

Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS v v i Prague Czech Republic

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