(600d) Mean Field Theory of Charged Dendrimer Molecules

The unique architecture of dendrimers has led to research in a wide array of applications including drug delivery. It is widely accepted that non-charged dendrimers exhibit a dense-core radial density profile in order to balance entropic and excluded volume forces. However, experiments and system-specific simulation have successfully been able to expand the dendrimer conformation by varying pH and salt concentration, showing potential for encapsulation of particles. In order to gain insights into the equilibrium structure and conformations of charged dendrimer molecules, we have developed and numerically solved a Self-Consistent Field Theory for charged dendrimer molecules in an implicit solvent. We have studied the effects of spacer length, generation number, pH, and salt concentration upon the conformations of the molecules.