Conformations of highly charged dendronized polymers in aqueous solutions of varying ionic strength

Conformations of two linear, charged dendronized polymers in aqueous solutions of different ionic strengths have been studied by light scattering. Both polymers have a polyacrylic core. The repeating unit of the first of the polymers studied contains a residue of aspartic acid bound to a carboxylic group of the core by an amide group as a first-generation dendron, whereas the second polymer contains second-generation dendrons constructed of three molecules of aspartic acid. The dendritic polymers adopt different conformations depending on the generation. Polymers with first-generation dendrons are flexible and their conformation is sensitive to salt. The polymers with dendrons of the second generation adopt a semi-flexible rod conformation. Their conformation is not sensitive to salt but is determined by the bulkiness of the dendrons.