Unique Structures, Properties and Applications of Dendrimers

Abstract

Dendrimers are novel three dimensional, hyperbranched globular nano polymeric architectures. Attractive features like nanoscopic size, narrow polydispersity index and excellent control over molecular structure afford dendrimers with ideal drug delivery ability through encapsulating drugs in their interior or covalently conjugating drugs on their surfaces. The adaptable surface functionalization ability enables covalent conjugation of various targeting molecules onto the surface of dendrimers, thereby allowing for generation of various multifunctional nanodevices for targeted drug delivery applications. Drug delivery researchers are especially enthusiastic about possible utility of dendrimers as drug delivery tool. However, to get the maximum benefits of these novel class macromolecules, a research by collaboration is very much essential. Finally, it is one of the youngest and exciting fields of polymer researches where all branches of science can take part and hence, deserves more intensive attention.
 Keywords: Dendrimers, Drug Delivery, Targeting, Dual Drug Loading, PAMAM

Structural and physicochemical characteristics of one-step PAMAM dendrimeric nanoparticles

“…The molecular weight was determined by linear regression of the maximum value in absorbance units (AU) based on the MW standard from 1.5 to 670 kDa, Cat 151-Three batches of OS-PAMAM and G6 were compared using their PDI values. For this purpose, the SEC profile of each sample was exported from Empower ® to Excel (Microsoft, WA, USA) and the PDI values were determined using the method described using formulas 1 to 3 [15]:…”

Dendrimers as Non-Viral Vectors in Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy

“…Dendrimers (Greek: dendron = tree; meros = parts, branches) [ 131 ], arborols or cascade molecules, are an architectural three-dimensional class of globular polymers [ 132 , 133 , 134 ]. Their structure is well-defined, homogenous and mono-dispersed, and consists of three parts: 1) central part (core/nucleus); 2) amplification region formed by branches or arms and 3) peripheral part with surface functional groups ( Figure 5 ) [ 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 ].…”

Recent advances in development of dendritic polymer‐based nanomedicines for cancer diagnosis

“…Specifically speaking, for in vitro cancer diagnosis, their highly branched three‐dimensional structure along with multiple functional groups make it possible to increase the density of capture detectors per unit area and the ability to bind them with cancer markers (Abedi‐Gaballu et al, 2018; Austin, Huang, Wu, Armstrong, & Zhang, 2018). While in the case of in vivo cancer diagnosis, their high biocompatibility and low viscosity lay the foundation for in vivo application (Gupta, Dubey, & Mishra, 2018; S. Wang, Farnood, & Yan, 2019), and the presence of cavities in their architecture and their high‐density end‐groups contribute to efficient encapsulation or incorporation of various imaging agents in a physical or chemical manner (M. Chen, Betzer, et al, 2020). Besides, surface modification with various targeting ligands through rational design of physicochemical parameters (size, branching degrees, and compositions) endows them with a tumor‐specific detection ability (Y. Yan, Gao, et al, 2018; X. Zhang, Wu, et al, 2020).…”