Dendrimers as Drug Carriers: Dynamics of PEGylated and Methotrexate-Loaded Dendrimers in Aqueous Solution

An investigation of the dynamics of aqueous solutions of PEG, PEGylated dendrimers, methotrexate, and PEGylated and drug (methotrexate)-loaded dendrimers was carried out with broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). Two dielectric dispersions were observed in all systems, and the explanation of their molecular origin was offered. The lower frequency process, characterized by ail activation energy of 52.2 kJ/mol, was attributed to motions in ice. The higher frequency process is of the Cole-Cole type and is assigned to bound water around PEG and methotrexate molecules. Theeffect of the average number of attached PEG chains and the average number of encapsulated methotrexate molecules was probed. Our results indicate that the dynamics arc independent of these numbers but are a strong function of the composition of the complex. Spectral characteristics and temperature dependence of all relaxation processes are described.