Carbosilane dendrimers peripherally functionalized with dansyl fluorescence tags and their cellular internalization studies

Abstract

This paper describes the synthesis of carbosilane dendrimers containing dansyl groups at their periphery showing two topologies: as per-dansylated systems of type G_n-[Si(CH₂)₃NH(Dans)]_m or as random partially surface-modified carbosilane dendrimers containing both amine and dansyl groups G₂-{[Si(CH₂)₃NH₂]_x[Si(CH₂)₃NH(Dans)]_y}. The dendritic systems were tested for in vitro toxicity on primary cell cultures (dendritic and peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and their cellular uptake was studied using confocal fluorescence microscopy. The results suggest that both types of dendritic topologies are acting as fluorescent labels proving the internalization of the carbosilane skeleton into cells.