Investigation of the factors influencing the formation of dendrimer/polyanion multilayer films

Abstract

Poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) multilayer films were prepared by an iterative electrostatic self-assembly process, viz., the layer-by-layer deposition of PAMAM and PSS onto planar supports. Multilayer film growth was monitored by UV-vis spectrophotometry, by use of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and by ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The UV-vis data revealed an adsorption-desorption phenomenon that was sensitive to the pH and ionic strength of the PSS and dendrimer solutions, the dendrimer generation (2G, 3G, or 4G) and concentration, and the PSS molecular weight and concentration. This behavior was due to the different nature of interac..