Stimuli sensitive amphiphilic dendrimers

Abstract

In the past decade, there has been an increasing interest in supramolecular systems that can undergo physical or chemical tranformations upon encountering a specific stimulus. Micelle-forming amphiphilic systems based on polymers and dendrimers are particularly preferred over small molecule amphiphiles, due to their ability to sequester and release a vast library of hydrophobic guest molecules at micromolar polymer or dendrimer concentrations. Here we review a relatively underexplored, yet rapidly advancing, field of amphiphilic systems based on dendritic architechture that exhibit stimuli sensitive behaviour. In particular, we will be focusing on stimuli such as temperature, pH, enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins. These stimuli-responsive systems offer a unique opportunity in the field of drug delivery and sensing.

Emerging concepts in dendrimer‐based nanomedicine: from design principles to clinical applications

“…These smaller dendrimer conjugate dimensions (i.e. <8 nm) provide deeper tumour penetration and renal excretion features. Dendrimer–drug conjugates may be engineered and targeted to deliver drugs selectively to disease sites thus avoiding off‐target delivery of toxic drugs to sensitive organs (for example, reducing exposure to cardiotoxic drugs). Dendrimer–drug conjugates may be readily freeze‐dried to produce water‐soluble powders with enhanced drug solubility thus avoiding potential toxic side effects due to formulation solubilizers. Dendrimers are stable monodisperse covalent structures in contrast to liposomes which are metastable and may rearrange to various sizes and shapes. Precise size‐calibrated nanostructures that may be decorated with engineered ratios of targeting‐, imaging‐ or stimuli‐responsive moieties suitable for in vivo theranostic applications . Well‐defined nanoscale compositions that are degradable (i.e. bis‐MPA dendrimers) , self‐immolative , biodegradable (i.e.…”

Photodegradable Polyesters for Triggered Release

“…These polymers are capable of forming stimuli-sensitive carriers, including stimuli-sensitive micelles [24–26], liposomes [27–29], dendrimers [19,30–32], hydrogel [33–35] and microparticles [36–38] as smart drug delivery systems. Light as an external trigger is particularly attractive, since it can be remotely and accurately controlled, quickly switched and easily focused into specific areas with relatively high spatiotemporal resolution [39].…”

Thermo-responsive Ruthenium Dendrimer-based Catalysts for Hydrogenation of the Aromatic Compounds and Phenols

“…The latter are associated here not only with combination of different functional groups, concentrated in various polymeric blocks, but also with the solubility and thermo-responsive behavior of these blocks, in particular, resulting from the different LCSTs for the linear PEGs (25-35°C) [5,61,67] and globular poly(propylene imine) (PPI) or poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers (65-85°C) [43,50,67]. The physical properties of such hybrid block-copolymers, like solubility, behavior, influenced by light, acidity and salt balance, have been already widely studied by the various science teams [67,68]. However their interests are aimed mainly at the application of PEG or poly(acryl amide) (PAAm) modified dendrimers as possible drug carriers [67][68][69][70].…”

“…The physical properties of such hybrid block-copolymers, like solubility, behavior, influenced by light, acidity and salt balance, have been already widely studied by the various science teams [67,68]. However their interests are aimed mainly at the application of PEG or poly(acryl amide) (PAAm) modified dendrimers as possible drug carriers [67][68][69][70].…”