Figure 9.

Likely models of PAMAM dendrimer and DMPC lipid interaction. (A) A dendrimer-filled lipid vesicle model of lipid bilayer disruption. The dendrimer binds at the surface of the membrane causing a bending stress that is relieved by the formation of dendrimer filled micelles.¹¹,¹⁵ (B) Membrane disruption by the abstraction of micellar lipid and dendrimer structures from the lipid bilayer. This mechanism is similar to Model A except the lipid tails are intercalated into the interior with the headgroups associated with the charged amines of the dendrimer.¹⁵,⁵⁶ (C) A carpet model of dendrimer-filled lipid bilayer disruption.²³,⁵⁸ Surface binding of the dendrimer creates excess curvature in the membrane,¹⁸,²¹ which is relieved by the formation of lipid-lined toroidal pores. After toroidal pores are eventually formed, there may more than one dendrimer inside the pore, although only one dendrimer is depicted here.