Synthesis of a fluorescent cationic phosphorus dendrimer and preliminary biological studies of its interaction with DNA.

The synthesis of a water-soluble phosphorus-containing dendrimer possessing a fluorophore (maleimide-type) linked to the core is described. This dendrimer is found brightly fluorescent in CH(2)Cl(2), but poorly fluorescent in water. The cytotoxicity of this compound is relatively low towards HeLa and A549 cells, and less toxic after 48 hours than after 24 hours. Association of this dendrimer with plasmid DNA (BACE-GFP) analyzed with circular dichroism (CD) indicates a possible disturbing of the helical B-type structure of DNA. The strength of this association (a "dendriplex") with BACE-GFP (also with HygEGFP) was measured by electrophoresis.