Electron Capture Dissociation and Collision-Induced Dissociation of Metal Ion (Ag(+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Fe(2+), and Fe(3+)) Complexes of Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) Dendrimers

The electron capture dissociation (ECD) and collision-induced dissociation (CID) of complexes of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers with metal ions Ag(+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Fe(2+), and Fe(3+) were determined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Complexes were of the form [PD + M + mH](5+) where PD = generation two PAMAM dendrimer with amidoethanol surface groups, M = metal ion, m = 2–4. Complementary information regarding the site and coordination chemistry of the metal ions can be obtained from the two techniques. The results suggest that complexes of Fe(3+) and Cu(2+) are coordinated via both core tertiary amines, whereas coordination of Ag(+) involves a single core tertiary amine. The Zn(2+) and Fe(2+) complexes do not appear to involve coordination by the dendrimer core.