Study of cationic carbosilane dendrimers as potential activating stimuli in macrophages

Abstract

Cationic carbosilane dendrimers with two ammonium groups per branch [G_nO₃(SiONN)_m]^2m+ (n = 1, m = 6; n = 2, m = 12; n = 3, m = 24), derived from the 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (1,3,5-C₆H₃(OH)₃) core, have been synthesized from reactions of dendrimers functionalized with Si–Cl bonds and the alcohol amine 2-{[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]methylamino}ethanol (HO(CH₂)₂N(Me)(CH₂)₂NMe₂) and further addition of MeI. The cationic dendrimers obtained were soluble in water, although they decomposed slowly in this medium. The toxicity and inflammatory activity of these dendrimers were evaluated in M1 macrophages and the results compared with the known carbosilane dendrimer 2G-NN16, derived from a Si atom core. The data showed good toxicity profiles for dendrimers [G_nO₃(SiONN)_m]^2m+ of first and second generation and 2G-NN16 and also that these dendrimers are not sensed as activating stimuli for macrophages and, as consequence, they do not cause an inflammatory response.