  The static and dynamic properties of dendrimers in semidilute solutions of
linear chains of comparable size are investigated using Brownian dynamics
simulations. The radius of gyration and diffusivity of a wide variety of low
generation dendrimers and linear chains in solution follow universal scaling
laws independent of their topology. Analysis of the shape functions and
internal density of dendrimers shows that they are more spherical than linear
chains and have a dense core. At intermediate times, dendrimers become
subdiffusive, with an exponent higher than that previously reported for
nanoparticles in semidilute polymer solutions. The long-time diffusivity of
dendrimers does not follow theoretical predictions for nanoparticles. We
propose a new scaling law for the long-time diffusion coefficients of
dendrimers which accounts for the fact that, unlike nanoparticles, dendrimers
shrink with an increase in background solution concentration. Analysis of the
properties of a special case of a higher functionality dendrimer shows a
transition from polymer-like to nanoparticle-like behaviour.
