We designed and synthesized intrinsically fluorescent rigid dendrimers built from tetraphenylmethane units connected by linear linkers.

 

Models show that these structures have a globular persistent shape with well-defined inner channels for the second and third generation. The highly modular structure of these new dendritic nanoparticles allows customizing the cavities size and functionality as well as the global size and periphery, by modification of the core, the linear linkers, the terminal functionality and the generation.

 

Work is under way now to develop luminiscent protein-like structures with a hydrophilic shell and hydrophobic binding pockets for biomedical applications. We are also involved in other projects such us the preparation of self-assembling systems, e.g. linear-dendritic block copolymers, porous hypercrosslinked polymers, and small molecules with electroactive and fluorescent properties.

 

Part of such research activities are developed under the Spanish National Programme for Research Aimed at the Challenges of Society (Materiales con Arquitecturas Privilegiadas: Dendrímeros Porosos, Copolímeros Lineal-Dendríticos y Redes Cristalinas de Enlaces Carbono-Carbono. Main researcher M. Torneiro)