dendrimer

Dendritic molecules are characterized by structural perfection. Dendrimers and dendrons are monodisperse and usually highly symmetric, spherical compounds. The field of dendritic molecules can be roughly divided into low-molecular weight and high-molecular weight species. The first category includes dendrimers and dendrons, and the latter includes dendronized polymers, hyperbranched polymers, and the polymer brush.

The properties of dendrimers are dominated by the functional groups on the molecular surface, however, there are examples of dendrimers with internal functionality.{{cite journal | vauthors = Antoni P, Hed Y, Nordberg A, Nyström D, von Holst H, Hult A, Malkoch M | title = Bifunctional dendrimers: from robust synthesis and accelerated one-pot postfunctionalization strategy to potential applications | journal = Angewandte Chemie | volume = 48 | issue = 12 | pages = 2126–30 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19117006 | doi = 10.1002/anie.200804987 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = McElhanon JR, McGrath DV | title = Toward chiral polyhydroxylated dendrimers. Preparation and chiroptical properties | journal = The Journal of Organic Chemistry | volume = 65 | issue = 11 | pages = 3525–9 | date = June 2000 | pmid = 10843641 | doi = 10.1021/jo000207a }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Liang CO, Fréchet JM | year = 2005 | title = Incorporation of Functional Guest Molecules into an Internally Functionalizable Dendrimer through Olefin Metathesis| journal = Macromolecules | volume = 38 | issue = 15| pages = 6276–6284 | doi = 10.1021/ma050818a | bibcode = 2005MaMol..38.6276L }} Dendritic encapsulation of functional molecules allows for the isolation of the active site, a structure that mimics that of active sites in biomaterials.{{cite journal | vauthors = Hecht S, Fréchet JM | title = Dendritic Encapsulation of Function: Applying Nature's Site Isolation Principle from Biomimetics to Materials Science | journal = Angewandte Chemie | volume = 40 | issue = 1 | pages = 74–91 | date = January 2001 | pmid = 11169692 | doi = 10.1002/1521-3773(20010105)40:1<74::AID-ANIE74>3.0.CO;2-C }}{{cite book| vauthors = Frechet J, Tomalia DA |title=Dendrimers and Other Dendritic Polymers|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|location=New York, NY|date=March 2002|isbn=978-0-471-63850-6}}{{cite journal | journal = Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. | year = 1999 | volume = 38 | pages = 884–905 | doi = 10.1002/(SICI)1521-3773(19990401)38:7<884::AID-ANIE884>3.0.CO;2-K | title = Dendrimers: From Design to Application—A Progress Report | issue = 7| vauthors = Fischer M, Vögtle F | pmid = 29711851 }} Also, it is possible to make dendrimers water-soluble, unlike most polymers, by functionalizing their outer shell with charged species or other hydrophilic groups. Other controllable properties of dendrimers include toxicity, crystallinity, tecto-dendrimer formation, and chirality.

Dendrimers are also classified by generation, which refers to the number of repeated branching cycles that are performed during its synthesis. For example, if a dendrimer is made by convergent synthesis (see below), and the branching reactions are performed onto the core molecule three times, the resulting dendrimer is considered a third generation dendrimer. Each successive generation results in a dendrimer roughly twice the molecular weight of the previous generation. Higher generation dendrimers also have more exposed functional groups on the surface, which can later be used to customize the dendrimer for a given application.{{cite web|url=http://www.sps.aero/Key_ComSpace_Articles/TSA-001_Dendrimers_White%20Paper.pdf |title=Dendrimers: Technology White Papers | vauthors = Holister P, Vas CR, Harper T |date=October 2003 |publisher=Cientifica |access-date=17 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706065720/http://www.sps.aero/Key_ComSpace_Articles/TSA-001_Dendrimers_White%20Paper.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2011 }} Dendrimers may have a single surface functional group, or may be modified to allow for multiple functional groups on the surface.{{Cite journal |last1=Schlick |first1=Kristian H. |last2=Morgan |first2=Joel R. |last3=Weiel |first3=Julianna J. |last4=Kelsey |first4=Melissa S. |last5=Cloninger |first5=Mary J. |date=September 1, 2011 |title=Clusters of ligands on dendrimer surfaces |journal=Bioorg Med Chem Lett |volume=21 |issue=17 |pages=5078–5083|doi=10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.03.100 |pmid=21524579 |pmc=3156387 }}

image:538 Arborol.png

One of the first dendrimers, the Newkome dendrimer, was synthesized in 1985. This macromolecule is also commonly known by the name arborol. The figure outlines the mechanism of the first two generations of arborol through a divergent route (discussed below). The synthesis is started by nucleophilic substitution of 1-bromopentane by triethyl sodiomethanetricarboxylate in dimethylformamide and benzene. The ester groups were then reduced by lithium aluminium hydride to a triol in a deprotection step. Activation of the chain ends was achieved by converting the alcohol groups to tosylate groups with tosyl chloride and pyridine. The tosyl group then served as leaving groups in another reaction with the tricarboxylate, forming generation two. Further repetition of the two steps leads to higher generations of arborol.

Poly(amidoamine), or PAMAM, is perhaps the most well known dendrimer. The core of PAMAM is a diamine (commonly ethylenediamine), which is reacted with methyl acrylate, and then another ethylenediamine to make the generation-0 (G-0) PAMAM. Successive reactions create higher generations, which tend to have different properties. Lower generations can be thought of as flexible molecules with no appreciable inner regions, while medium-sized (G-3 or G-4) do have internal space that is essentially separated from the outer shell of the dendrimer. Very large (G-7 and greater) dendrimers can be thought of more like solid particles with very dense surfaces due to the structure of their outer shell. The functional group on the surface of PAMAM dendrimers is ideal for click chemistry, which gives rise to many potential applications.

Dendrimers can be considered to have three major portions: a core, an inner shell, and an outer shell. Ideally, a dendrimer can be synthesized to have different functionality in each of these portions to control properties such as solubility, thermal stability, and attachment of compounds for particular applications. Synthetic processes can also precisely control the size and number of branches on the dendrimer. There are two defined methods of dendrimer synthesis, divergent synthesis and convergent synthesis. However, because the actual reactions consist of many steps needed to protect the active site, it is difficult to synthesize dendrimers using either method. This makes dendrimers hard to make and very expensive to purchase. At this time, there are only a few companies that sell dendrimers; Polymer Factory Sweden ABPolymer Factory AB, Stockholm, Sweden.[http://www.PolymerFactory.com Polymer Factory] commercializes biocompatible bis-MPA dendrimers and DendritechDendritech Inc., from Midland, Michigan, USA.[http://www.dendritech.com Dendritech]. is the only kilogram-scale producers of PAMAM dendrimers. NanoSynthons, LLC[http://www.Nanosynthons.com Home]. NanoSynthons. Retrieved on 2015-09-29. from Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA produces PAMAM dendrimers and other proprietary dendrimers.

image:538 Divergent synthesis.png

The dendrimer is assembled from a multifunctional core, which is extended outward by a series of reactions, commonly a Michael reaction. Each step of the reaction must be driven to full completion to prevent mistakes in the dendrimer, which can cause trailing generations (some branches are shorter than the others). Such impurities can impact the functionality and symmetry of the dendrimer, but are extremely difficult to purify out because the relative size difference between perfect and imperfect dendrimers is very small.

image:538 Convergent synthesis.png

Dendrimers are built from small molecules that end up at the surface of the sphere, and reactions proceed inward building inward and are eventually attached to a core. This method makes it much easier to remove impurities and shorter branches along the way, so that the final dendrimer is more monodisperse. However dendrimers made this way are not as large as those made by divergent methods because crowding due to steric effects along the core is limiting.

Image:Dendrimer DA Mullen 1996.svg.{{cite journal|doi=10.1002/anie.199706311|title=Polyphenylene Dendrimers: From Three-Dimensional to Two-Dimensional Structures|journal=Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English|volume=36|issue=6|pages=631–634|year=1997|last1=Morgenroth|first1=Frank|last2=Reuther|first2=Erik|last3=Müllen|first3=Klaus | name-list-style = vanc }}]]

Dendrimers have been prepared via click chemistry, employing Diels-Alder reactions,{{cite journal | vauthors = Franc G, Kakkar AK | title = Diels-Alder "click" chemistry in designing dendritic macromolecules | journal = Chemistry: A European Journal | volume = 15 | issue = 23 | pages = 5630–9 | date = June 2009 | pmid = 19418515 | doi = 10.1002/chem.200900252 }} thiol-ene and thiol-yne reactions{{cite journal | vauthors = Killops KL, Campos LM, Hawker CJ | title = Robust, efficient, and orthogonal synthesis of dendrimers via thiol-ene "click" chemistry | journal = Journal of the American Chemical Society | volume = 130 | issue = 15 | pages = 5062–4 | date = April 2008 | pmid = 18355008 | doi = 10.1021/ja8006325 | bibcode = 2008JAChS.130.5062K | citeseerx = 10.1.1.658.8715 }} and azide-alkyne reactions.{{cite journal | vauthors = Noda K, Minatogawa Y, Higuchi T | title = Effects of hippocampal neurotoxicant, trimethyltin, on corticosterone response to a swim stress and glucocorticoid binding capacity in the hippocampus in rats | journal = The Japanese Journal of Psychiatry and Neurology | volume = 45 | issue = 1 | pages = 107–8 | date = March 1991 | pmid = 1753450 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Machaiah JP | title = Changes in macrophage membrane proteins in relation to protein deficiency in rats | journal = Indian Journal of Experimental Biology | volume = 29 | issue = 5 | pages = 463–7 | date = May 1991 | pmid = 1916945 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Franc G, Kakkar A | title = Dendrimer design using Cu(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide "click-chemistry" | journal = Chemical Communications | issue = 42 | pages = 5267–76 | date = November 2008 | pmid = 18985184 | doi = 10.1039/b809870k }}

There are ample avenues that can be opened by exploring this chemistry in dendrimer synthesis.

Applications of dendrimers typically involve conjugating other chemical species to the dendrimer surface that can function as detecting agents (such as a dye molecule), affinity ligands, targeting components, radioligands, imaging agents, or pharmaceutically active compounds. Dendrimers have very strong potential for these applications because their structure can lead to multivalent systems. In other words, one dendrimer molecule has hundreds of possible sites to couple to an active species. Researchers aimed to utilize the hydrophobic environments of the dendritic media to conduct photochemical reactions that generate the products that are synthetically challenged. Carboxylic acid and phenol-terminated water-soluble dendrimers were synthesized to establish their utility in drug delivery as well as conducting chemical reactions in their interiors.{{cite journal | vauthors = Kaanumalle LS, Ramesh R, Murthy Maddipatla VS, Nithyanandhan J, Jayaraman N, Ramamurthy V | title = Dendrimers as photochemical reaction media. Photochemical behavior of unimolecular and bimolecular reactions in water-soluble dendrimers | journal = The Journal of Organic Chemistry | volume = 70 | issue = 13 | pages = 5062–9 | date = June 2005 | pmid = 15960506 | doi = 10.1021/jo0503254 }} This might allow researchers to attach both targeting molecules and drug molecules to the same dendrimer, which could reduce negative side effects of medications on healthy cells.{{cite book|last=Hermanson|first=Greg T.| name-list-style = vanc |title=Bioconjugate Techniques|publisher=Academic Press of Elsevier|location=London|year=2008|edition=2nd|chapter=7|isbn=978-0-12-370501-3}}

Dendrimers can also be used as a solubilizing agent. Since their introduction in the mid-1980s, this novel class of dendrimer architecture has been a prime candidate for host–guest chemistry.{{cite journal | title = Starburst Dendrimers: Molecular-Level Control of Size, Shape, Surface Chemistry, Topology, and Flexibility from Atoms to Macroscopic Matter | journal = Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. | year = 1990 | pages = 138–175 | volume = 29 | doi = 10.1002/anie.199001381 | issue = 2| last1 = Tomalia | first1 = Donald A. | last2 = Naylor | first2 = Adel M. | last3 = Goddard | first3 = William A. | name-list-style = vanc }} Dendrimers with hydrophobic core and hydrophilic periphery have shown to exhibit micelle-like behavior and have container properties in solution.{{cite journal | vauthors = Fréchet JM | title = Functional polymers and dendrimers: reactivity, molecular architecture, and interfacial energy | journal = Science | volume = 263 | issue = 5154 | pages = 1710–5 | date = March 1994 | pmid = 8134834 | doi = 10.1126/science.8134834 | bibcode = 1994Sci...263.1710F }} The use of dendrimers as unimolecular micelles was proposed by Newkome in 1985.{{cite journal | vauthors = Liu M, Kono K, Fréchet JM | title = Water-soluble dendritic unimolecular micelles: their potential as drug delivery agents | journal = Journal of Controlled Release | volume = 65 | issue = 1–2 | pages = 121–31 | date = March 2000 | pmid = 10699276 | doi = 10.1016/s0168-3659(99)00245-x }} This analogy highlighted the utility of dendrimers as solubilizing agents.{{cite journal | title = Micelles Part 1. Cascade molecules: a new approach to micelles, A-arborol | journal = J. Org. Chem. | year = 1985 | pages = 155–158 | volume = 50 | issue = 11 | doi=10.1021/jo00211a052| last1 = Newkome | first1 = George R. | last2 = Yao | first2 = Zhongqi | last3 = Baker | first3 = Gregory R. | last4 = Gupta | first4 = Vinod K. | name-list-style = vanc }} The majority of drugs available in pharmaceutical industry are hydrophobic in nature and this property in particular creates major formulation problems. This drawback of drugs can be ameliorated by dendrimeric scaffolding, which can be used to encapsulate as well as to solubilize the drugs because of the capability of such scaffolds to participate in extensive hydrogen bonding with water.{{cite journal | title = Synthesis, characterisation and guest-host properties of inverted unimolecular micelles | vauthors = Stevelmens S, Hest JC, Jansen JF, Boxtel DA, de Bravander-van den B, Miejer EW | journal = J Am Chem Soc | year = 1996 | pages = 7398–7399 | volume = 118 | doi = 10.1021/ja954207h | issue = 31|url=https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/synthesis-characterization-and-guesthost-properties-of-inverted-unimolecular-dendritic-micelles(947d0f26-7215-44a3-a4ad-49fba0d24282).html | hdl = 2066/17430 | s2cid = 98332942 | hdl-access = free }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Gupta U, Agashe HB, Asthana A, Jain NK | title = Dendrimers: novel polymeric nanoarchitectures for solubility enhancement | journal = Biomacromolecules | volume = 7 | issue = 3 | pages = 649–58 | date = March 2006 | pmid = 16529394 | doi = 10.1021/bm050802s }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Thomas TP, Majoros IJ, Kotlyar A, Kukowska-Latallo JF, Bielinska A, Myc A, Baker JR | title = Targeting and inhibition of cell growth by an engineered dendritic nanodevice | journal = Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | volume = 48 | issue = 11 | pages = 3729–35 | date = June 2005 | pmid = 15916424 | doi = 10.1021/jm040187v }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Bhadra D, Bhadra S, Jain P, Jain NK | title = Pegnology: a review of PEG-ylated systems | journal = Die Pharmazie | volume = 57 | issue = 1 | pages = 5–29 | date = January 2002 | pmid = 11836932 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Asthana A, Chauhan AS, Diwan PV, Jain NK | title = Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendritic nanostructures for controlled site-specific delivery of acidic anti-inflammatory active ingredient | journal = AAPS PharmSciTech | volume = 6 | issue = 3 | pages = E536-42 | date = October 2005 | pmid = 16354015 | pmc = 2750401 | doi = 10.1208/pt060367 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Bhadra D, Bhadra S, Jain S, Jain NK | title = A PEGylated dendritic nanoparticulate carrier of fluorouracil | journal = International Journal of Pharmaceutics | volume = 257 | issue = 1–2 | pages = 111–24 | date = May 2003 | pmid = 12711167 | doi = 10.1016/s0378-5173(03)00132-7 }} Dendrimer labs are trying to manipulate dendrimer's solubilizing trait, to explore dendrimers for drug delivery{{cite journal | vauthors = Khopade AJ, Caruso F, Tripathi P, Nagaich S, Jain NK | title = Effect of dendrimer on entrapment and release of bioactive from liposomes | journal = International Journal of Pharmaceutics | volume = 232 | issue = 1–2 | pages = 157–62 | date = January 2002 | pmid = 11790499 | doi = 10.1016/S0378-5173(01)00901-2 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Prajapati RN, Tekade RK, Gupta U, Gajbhiye V, Jain NK | title = Dendimer-mediated solubilization, formulation development and in vitro-in vivo assessment of piroxicam | journal = Molecular Pharmaceutics | volume = 6 | issue = 3 | pages = 940–50 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19231841 | doi = 10.1021/mp8002489 }} and to target specific carriers.{{cite journal | vauthors = Chauhan AS, Sridevi S, Chalasani KB, Jain AK, Jain SK, Jain NK, Diwan PV | title = Dendrimer-mediated transdermal delivery: enhanced bioavailability of indomethacin | journal = Journal of Controlled Release | volume = 90 | issue = 3 | pages = 335–43 | date = July 2003 | pmid = 12880700 | doi = 10.1016/s0168-3659(03)00200-1 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Kukowska-Latallo JF, Candido KA, Cao Z, Nigavekar SS, Majoros IJ, Thomas TP, Balogh LP, Khan MK, Baker JR | display-authors = 6 | title = Nanoparticle targeting of anticancer drug improves therapeutic response in animal model of human epithelial cancer | journal = Cancer Research | volume = 65 | issue = 12 | pages = 5317–24 | date = June 2005 | pmid = 15958579 | doi = 10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-3921 | doi-access = free }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Quintana A, Raczka E, Piehler L, Lee I, Myc A, Majoros I, Patri AK, Thomas T, Mulé J, Baker JR | display-authors = 6 | title = Design and function of a dendrimer-based therapeutic nanodevice targeted to tumor cells through the folate receptor | journal = Pharmaceutical Research | volume = 19 | issue = 9 | pages = 1310–6 | date = September 2002 | pmid = 12403067 | doi = 10.1023/a:1020398624602 | url = https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41493/1/11095_2004_Article_378868.pdf | hdl = 2027.42/41493 | s2cid = 9444825 | hdl-access = free }}

For dendrimers to be able to be used in pharmaceutical applications, they must surmount the required regulatory hurdles to reach market. One dendrimer scaffold designed to achieve this is the polyethoxyethylglycinamide (PEE-G) dendrimer.{{cite journal | vauthors = Toms S, Carnachan SM, Hermans IF, Johnson KD, Khan AA, O'Hagan SE, Tang CW, Rendle PM | display-authors = 6 | title = Poly Ethoxy Ethyl Glycinamide (PEE-G) Dendrimers: Dendrimers Specifically Designed for Pharmaceutical Applications | journal = ChemMedChem | volume = 11 | issue = 15 | pages = 1583–6 | date = August 2016 | pmid = 27390296 | doi = 10.1002/cmdc.201600270 | s2cid = 5007374 }}{{Cite web|last=GlycoSyn|url=http://www.glycofinechem.glycosyn.com/collections/dendrimers|title=PEE-G Dendrimers}} This dendrimer scaffold has been designed and shown to have high HPLC purity, stability, aqueous solubility and low inherent toxicity.

File:538 Gene delivery.png

Approaches for delivering unaltered natural products using polymeric carriers is of widespread interest. Dendrimers have been explored for the encapsulation of hydrophobic compounds and for the delivery of anticancer drugs. The physical characteristics of dendrimers, including their monodispersity, water solubility, encapsulation ability, and large number of functionalizable peripheral groups make these macromolecules appropriate candidates for drug delivery vehicles.

Dendrimers are particularly versatile drug delivery devices due to the wide range of chemical modifications that can be made to increase in vivo suitability and allow for site-specific targeted drug delivery.

Drug attachment to the dendrimer may be accomplished by (1) a covalent attachment or conjugation to the external surface of the dendrimer forming a dendrimer prodrug, (2) ionic coordination to charged outer functional groups, or (3) micelle-like encapsulation of a drug via a dendrimer-drug supramolecular assembly.{{cite journal | vauthors = Morgan MT, Nakanishi Y, Kroll DJ, Griset AP, Carnahan MA, Wathier M, Oberlies NH, Manikumar G, Wani MC, Grinstaff MW | display-authors = 6 | title = Dendrimer-encapsulated camptothecins: increased solubility, cellular uptake, and cellular retention affords enhanced anticancer activity in vitro | journal = Cancer Research | volume = 66 | issue = 24 | pages = 11913–21 | date = December 2006 | pmid = 17178889 | doi = 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-2066 | doi-access = }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Tekade RK, Dutta T, Gajbhiye V, Jain NK | title = Exploring dendrimer towards dual drug delivery: pH responsive simultaneous drug-release kinetics | journal = Journal of Microencapsulation | volume = 26 | issue = 4 | pages = 287–96 | date = June 2009 | pmid = 18791906 | doi = 10.1080/02652040802312572 | s2cid = 44523215}} In the case of a dendrimer prodrug structure, linking of a drug to a dendrimer may be direct or linker-mediated depending on desired release kinetics. Such a linker may be pH-sensitive, enzyme catalyzed, or a disulfide bridge. The wide range of terminal functional groups available for dendrimers allows for many different types of linker chemistries, providing yet another tunable component on the system. Key parameters to consider for linker chemistry are (1) release mechanism upon arrival to the target site, whether that be within the cell or in a certain organ system, (2) drug-dendrimer spacing so as to prevent lipophilic drugs from folding into the dendrimer, and (3) linker degradability and post-release trace modifications on drugs.{{cite journal | vauthors = Leong NJ, Mehta D, McLeod VM, Kelly BD, Pathak R, Owen DJ, Porter CJ, Kaminskas LM | display-authors = 6 | title = Doxorubicin Conjugation and Drug Linker Chemistry Alter the Intravenous and Pulmonary Pharmacokinetics of a PEGylated Generation 4 Polylysine Dendrimer in Rats | journal = Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | volume = 107 | issue = 9 | pages = 2509–2513 | date = September 2018 | pmid = 29852134 | doi = 10.1016/j.xphs.2018.05.013 | s2cid = 46918065 | url = https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:e652bb4/UQe652bb4_OA.pdf }}{{cite journal | vauthors = da Silva Santos S, Igne Ferreira E, Giarolla J | title = Dendrimer Prodrugs | journal = Molecules | volume = 21 | issue = 6 | pages = 686 | date = May 2016 | pmid = 27258239 | pmc = 6274429 | doi = 10.3390/molecules21060686 | doi-access = free }}

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a common modification for dendrimers to modify their surface charge and circulation time. Surface charge can influence the interactions of dendrimers with biological systems, such as amine-terminal modified dendrimers which have a propensity to interact with cell membranes with anionic charge. Certain in vivo studies have shown polycationic dendrimers to be cytotoxic through membrane permeabilization, a phenomenon that could be partially mitigated via addition of PEGylation caps on amine groups, resulting in lower cytotoxicity and lower red blood cell hemolysis.{{cite journal | vauthors = Kaminskas LM, Boyd BJ, Porter CJ | title = Dendrimer pharmacokinetics: the effect of size, structure and surface characteristics on ADME properties | journal = Nanomedicine | volume = 6 | issue = 6 | pages = 1063–84 | date = August 2011 | pmid = 21955077 | doi = 10.2217/nnm.11.67 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Luong D, Kesharwani P, Deshmukh R, Mohd Amin MC, Gupta U, Greish K, Iyer AK | title = PEGylated PAMAM dendrimers: Enhancing efficacy and mitigating toxicity for effective anticancer drug and gene delivery | journal = Acta Biomaterialia | volume = 43 | pages = 14–29 | date = October 2016 | pmid = 27422195 | doi = 10.1016/j.actbio.2016.07.015 }} Additionally, studies have found that PEGylation of dendrimers results in higher drug loading, slower drug release, longer circulation times in vivo, and lower toxicity in comparison to counterparts without PEG modifications.{{cite journal | vauthors = Singh P, Gupta U, Asthana A, Jain NK | title = Folate and folate-PEG-PAMAM dendrimers: synthesis, characterization, and targeted anticancer drug delivery potential in tumor bearing mice | journal = Bioconjugate Chemistry | volume = 19 | issue = 11 | pages = 2239–52 | date = November 2008 | pmid = 18950215 | doi = 10.1021/bc800125u }}

Numerous targeting moieties have been used to modify dendrimer biodistribution and allow for targeting to specific organs. For example, folate receptors are overexpressed in tumor cells and are therefore promising targets for localized drug delivery of chemotherapeutics. Folic acid conjugation to PAMAM dendrimers has been shown to increase targeting and decrease off-target toxicity while maintaining on-target cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutics such as methotrexate, in mouse models of cancer.{{cite journal | vauthors = Majoros IJ, Williams CR, Becker A, Baker JR | title = Methotrexate delivery via folate targeted dendrimer-based nanotherapeutic platform | journal = Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology | volume = 1 | issue = 5 | pages = 502–10 | date = September 2009 | pmid = 20049813 | pmc = 2944777 | doi = 10.1002/wnan.37}}

Antibody-mediated targeting of dendrimers to cell targets has also shown promise for targeted drug delivery. As epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) are often overexpressed in brain tumors, EGFRs are a convenient target for site-specific drug delivery. The delivery of boron to cancerous cells is important for effective neutron capture therapy, a cancer treatment which requires a large concentration of boron in cancerous cells and a low concentration in healthy cells. A boronated dendrimer conjugated with a monoclonal antibody drug that targets EGFRs was used in rats to successfully deliver boron to cancerous cells.{{cite journal | vauthors = Wu G, Barth RF, Yang W, Chatterjee M, Tjarks W, Ciesielski MJ, Fenstermaker RA | title = Site-specific conjugation of boron-containing dendrimers to anti-EGF receptor monoclonal antibody cetuximab (IMC-C225) and its evaluation as a potential delivery agent for neutron capture therapy | journal = Bioconjugate Chemistry | volume = 15 | issue = 1 | pages = 185–94 | date = January 2004 | pmid = 14733599 | doi = 10.1021/bc0341674}}

Modifying nanoparticle dendrimers with peptides has also been successful for targeted destruction of colorectal (HCT-116) cancer cells in a co-culture scenario. Targeting peptides can be used to achieve site- or cell-specific delivery, and it has been shown that these peptides increase in targeting specificity when paired with dendrimers. Specifically, gemcitabine-loaded YIGSR-CMCht/PAMAM, a unique kind of dendrimer nanoparticle, induces a targeted mortality on these cancer cells. This is performed via selective interaction of the dendrimer with laminin receptors. Peptide dendrimers may be employed in the future to precisely target cancer cells and deliver chemotherapeutic agents.{{cite journal| vauthors = Carvalho MR, Carvalho CR, Maia FR, Caballero D, Kundu SC, Reis RL, Oliveira JM |date= November 2019 |title=Peptide-Modified Dendrimer Nanoparticles for Targeted Therapy of Colorectal Cancer |journal=Advanced Therapeutics |volume=2|issue=11|pages=1900132|doi=10.1002/adtp.201900132|hdl= 1822/61410 |s2cid= 203135854 |issn=2366-3987|hdl-access=free}}

The cellular uptake mechanism of dendrimers can also be tuned using chemical targeting modifications. Non-modified PAMAM-G4 dendrimer is taken up into activated microglia by fluid phase endocytosis. Conversely, mannose modification of hydroxyl PAMAM-G4 dendrimers was able to change the mechanism of internalization to mannose-receptor (CD206) mediated endocytosis. Additionally, mannose modification was able to change the biodistribution in the rest of the body in rabbits.{{cite journal | vauthors = Sharma A, Porterfield JE, Smith E, Sharma R, Kannan S, Kannan RM | title = Effect of mannose targeting of hydroxyl PAMAM dendrimers on cellular and organ biodistribution in a neonatal brain injury model | journal = Journal of Controlled Release | volume = 283 | pages = 175–189 | date = August 2018 | pmid = 29883694 | pmc = 6091673 | doi = 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.06.003}}

Dendrimers have the potential to completely change the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) profiles of a drug. As carriers, the PK/PD is no longer determined by the drug itself but by the dendrimer’s localization, drug release, and dendrimer excretion. ADME properties are very highly tunable by varying dendrimer size, structure, and surface characteristics. While G9 dendrimers accumulate very heavily to the liver and spleen, G6 dendrimers tend to accumulate more broadly. As molecular weight increases, urinary clearance and plasma clearance decrease while terminal half-life increases.

To increase patient compliance with prescribed treatment, delivery of drugs orally is often preferred to other routes of drug administration. However oral bioavailability of many drugs tends to be very low. Dendrimers can be used to increase the solubility and stability of orally-administered drugs and increase drug penetration through the intestinal membrane.{{cite journal | vauthors = Csaba N, Garcia-Fuentes M, Alonso MJ | title = The performance of nanocarriers for transmucosal drug delivery | journal = Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery | volume = 3 | issue = 4 | pages = 463–78 | date = July 2006 | pmid = 16822222 | doi = 10.1517/17425247.3.4.463 | s2cid = 13056713}} The bioavailability of PAMAM dendrimers conjugated to a chemotherapeutic has been studied in mice; it was found that around 9% of dendrimer administered orally was found intact in circulation and that minimal dendrimer degradation occurred in the gut.{{cite journal | vauthors = Thiagarajan G, Sadekar S, Greish K, Ray A, Ghandehari H | title = Evidence of oral translocation of anionic G6.5 dendrimers in mice | journal = Molecular Pharmaceutics | volume = 10 | issue = 3 | pages = 988–98 | date = March 2013 | pmid = 23286733 | pmc = 3715149 | doi = 10.1021/mp300436c}}

Intravenous dendrimer delivery shows promise as gene vectors to deliver genes to various organs in the body, and even tumors. One study found that through intravenous injection, a combination of PPI dendrimers and gene complexes resulted in gene expression in the liver, and another study showed that a similar injection regressed the growth of tumors in observed animals.{{cite journal | vauthors = Dufès C, Uchegbu IF, Schätzlein AG | title = Dendrimers in gene delivery | journal = Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews | volume = 57 | issue = 15 | pages = 2177–202 | date = December 2005 | pmid = 16310284 | doi = 10.1016/j.addr.2005.09.017 | url = https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/7822/1/Dufesetal2005review.pdf}}{{cite journal | vauthors = Dufès C, Keith WN, Bilsland A, Proutski I, Uchegbu IF, Schätzlein AG | title = Synthetic anticancer gene medicine exploits intrinsic antitumor activity of cationic vector to cure established tumors | journal = Cancer Research | volume = 65 | issue = 18 | pages = 8079–84 | date = September 2005 | pmid = 16166279 | doi = 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-4402 | doi-access = free}}

The primary obstacle to transdermal drug delivery is the epidermis. Hydrophobic drugs have a very difficult time penetrating the skin layer, as they partition heavily into skin oils. Recently, PAMAM dendrimers have been used as delivery vehicles for NSAIDS to increase hydrophilicity, allowing greater drug penetration.{{cite journal | vauthors = Cheng Y, Man N, Xu T, Fu R, Wang X, Wang X, Wen L | title = Transdermal delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs mediated by polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers | journal = Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | volume = 96 | issue = 3 | pages = 595–602 | date = March 2007 | pmid = 17094130 | doi = 10.1002/jps.20745}} These modifications act as polymeric transdermal enhancers allowing drugs to more easily penetrate the skin barrier.

Dendrimers may also act as new ophthalmic vehicles for drug delivery, which are different from the polymers currently used for this purpose. A study by Vanndamme and Bobeck used PAMAM dendrimers as ophthalmic delivery vehicles in rabbits for two model drugs and measured the ocular residence time of this delivery to be comparable and in some cases greater than current bioadhesive polymers used in ocular delivery.{{cite journal | vauthors = Vandamme TF, Brobeck L | title = Poly(amidoamine) dendrimers as ophthalmic vehicles for ocular delivery of pilocarpine nitrate and tropicamide | journal = Journal of Controlled Release | volume = 102 | issue = 1 | pages = 23–38 | date = January 2005 | pmid = 15653131 | doi = 10.1016/j.jconrel.2004.09.015}} This result indicates that administered drugs were more active and had increased bioavailability when delivered via dendrimers than their free-drug counterparts. Additionally, photo-curable, drug-eluting dendrimer-hyaluronic acid hydrogels have been used as corneal sutures applied directly to the eye. These hydrogel sutures have shown efficacy as a medical device in rabbit models that surpasses traditional sutures and minimizes corneal scarring.{{cite journal | vauthors = Xu Q, Kambhampati SP, Kannan RM | title = Nanotechnology approaches for ocular drug delivery | journal = Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology | volume = 20 | issue = 1 | pages = 26–37 | date = 2013 | pmid = 23580849 | pmc = 3617524 | doi = 10.4103/0974-9233.106384 | doi-access = free }}

Dendrimer drug delivery has also shown major promise as a potential solution for many traditionally difficult drug delivery problems. In the case of drug delivery to the brain, dendrimers are able to take advantage of the EPR effect and blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment to cross the BBB effectively in vivo. For example, hydroxyl-terminated PAMAM dendrimers possess an intrinsic targeting ability to inflamed macrophages in the brain, verified using fluorescently labeled neutral generation dendrimers in a rabbit model of cerebral palsy.{{cite journal | vauthors = Dai H, Navath RS, Balakrishnan B, Guru BR, Mishra MK, Romero R, Kannan RM, Kannan S | display-authors = 6 | title = Intrinsic targeting of inflammatory cells in the brain by polyamidoamine dendrimers upon subarachnoid administration | journal = Nanomedicine | volume = 5 | issue = 9 | pages = 1317–29 | date = November 2010 | pmid = 21128716 | pmc = 3095441 | doi = 10.2217/nnm.10.89}} This intrinsic targeting has enabled drug delivery in a variety of conditions, ranging from cerebral palsy and other neuroinflammatory disorders to traumatic brain injury and hypothermic circulatory arrest, across a variety of animal models ranging from mice and rabbits to canines.{{cite journal | vauthors = Kannan G, Kambhampati SP, Kudchadkar SR | title = Effect of anesthetics on microglial activation and nanoparticle uptake: Implications for drug delivery in traumatic brain injury | journal = Journal of Controlled Release | volume = 263 | pages = 192–199 | date = October 2017 | pmid = 28336376 | doi = 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.03.032 | s2cid = 8652471}}{{cite journal | vauthors = Kannan S, Dai H, Navath RS, Balakrishnan B, Jyoti A, Janisse J, Romero R, Kannan RM | display-authors = 6 | title = Dendrimer-based postnatal therapy for neuroinflammation and cerebral palsy in a rabbit model | journal = Science Translational Medicine | volume = 4 | issue = 130 | pages = 130ra46 | date = April 2012 | pmid = 22517883 | pmc = 3492056 | doi = 10.1126/scitranslmed.3003162}}{{cite journal | vauthors = Mishra MK, Beaty CA, Lesniak WG, Kambhampati SP, Zhang F, Wilson MA, Blue ME, Troncoso JC, Kannan S, Johnston MV, Baumgartner WA, Kannan RM | display-authors = 6 | title = Dendrimer brain uptake and targeted therapy for brain injury in a large animal model of hypothermic circulatory arrest | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 8 | issue = 3 | pages = 2134–47 | date = March 2014 | pmid = 24499315 | pmc = 4004292 | doi = 10.1021/nn404872e}} Dendrimer uptake into the brain correlates with severity of inflammation and BBB impairment and it is believed that the BBB impairment is the key driving factor allowing dendrimer penetration.{{cite journal | vauthors = Nance E, Kambhampati SP, Smith ES, Zhang Z, Zhang F, Singh S, Johnston MV, Kannan RM, Blue ME, Kannan S | display-authors = 6 | title = Dendrimer-mediated delivery of N-acetyl cysteine to microglia in a mouse model of Rett syndrome | journal = Journal of Neuroinflammation | volume = 14 | issue = 1 | pages = 252 | date = December 2017 | pmid = 29258545 | pmc = 5735803 | doi = 10.1186/s12974-017-1004-5 | doi-access = free }} Localization is heavily skewed towards activated microglia. Dendrimer-conjugated N-acetyl cysteine has shown efficacy in vivo as an anti-inflammatory at more than 1000-fold lower dose than free drug on a drug basis, reversing the phenotype of cerebral palsy, Rett syndrome, macular degeneration and other inflammatory diseases.

Starpharma, an Australian pharmaceutical company, has multiple products that have either already been approved for use or are in the clinical trial phase. SPL7013, also known as astodrimer sodium, is a hyperbranched polymer used in Starpharma’s VivaGel line of pharmaceuticals that is currently approved to treat bacterial vaginosis and prevent the spread of HIV, HPV, and HSV in Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, Canada, and Australia. Due to SPL7013’s broad antiviral action, it has recently been tested by the company as a potential drug to treat SARS-CoV-2. The company states preliminary in-vitro studies show high efficacy in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells.{{Cite web|url=https://themarketherald.com.au/starpharma-asxspl-compound-shows-activity-against-coronavirus-2020-04-16/|title=Starpharma (ASX:SPL) compound shows activity against coronavirus - The Market Herald|date=2020-04-16|website=themarketherald.com.au|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-30}}

The ability to deliver pieces of DNA to the required parts of a cell includes many challenges. Current research is being performed to find ways to use dendrimers to traffic genes into cells without damaging or deactivating the DNA. To maintain the activity of DNA during dehydration, the dendrimer/DNA complexes were encapsulated in a water-soluble polymer, and then deposited on or sandwiched in functional polymer films with a fast degradation rate to mediate gene transfection. Based on this method, PAMAM dendrimer/DNA complexes were used to encapsulate functional biodegradable polymer films for substrate mediated gene delivery. Research has shown that the fast-degrading functional polymer has great potential for localized transfection.{{cite journal | vauthors = Fu HL, Cheng SX, Zhang XZ, Zhuo RX | title = Dendrimer/DNA complexes encapsulated functional biodegradable polymer for substrate-mediated gene delivery | journal = The Journal of Gene Medicine | volume = 10 | issue = 12 | pages = 1334–42 | date = December 2008 | pmid = 18816481 | doi = 10.1002/jgm.1258 | s2cid = 46011138 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Fu HL, Cheng SX, Zhang XZ, Zhuo RX | title = Dendrimer/DNA complexes encapsulated in a water soluble polymer and supported on fast degrading star poly(DL-lactide) for localized gene delivery | journal = Journal of Controlled Release | volume = 124 | issue = 3 | pages = 181–8 | date = December 2007 | pmid = 17900738 | doi = 10.1016/j.jconrel.2007.08.031 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Dutta T, Garg M, Jain NK | title = Poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer and dendrosome mediated genetic immunization against hepatitis B | journal = Vaccine | volume = 26 | issue = 27–28 | pages = 3389–94 | date = June 2008 | pmid = 18511160 | doi = 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.04.058 }}

Dendrimers have potential applications in sensors. Studied systems include proton or pH sensors using poly(propylene imine),{{cite journal| vauthors = Fernandes EG, Vieira NC, de Queiroz AA, Guimaraes FE, Zucolotto V |year=2010|title=Immobilization of Poly(propylene imine) Dendrimer/Nickel Phthalocyanine as Nanostructured Multilayer Films To Be Used as Gate Membranes for SEGFET pH Sensors |journal=Journal of Physical Chemistry C|volume=114|issue=14|pages=6478–6483|doi=10.1021/jp9106052}} cadmium-sulfide/polypropylenimine tetrahexacontaamine dendrimer composites to detect fluorescence signal quenching,{{cite journal | vauthors = Campos BB, Algarra M, Esteves da Silva JC | title = Fluorescent properties of a hybrid cadmium sulfide-dendrimer nanocomposite and its quenching with nitromethane | journal = Journal of Fluorescence | volume = 20 | issue = 1 | pages = 143–51 | date = January 2010 | pmid = 19728051 | doi = 10.1007/s10895-009-0532-5 | s2cid = 10846628 }} and poly(propylenamine) first and second generation dendrimers for metal cation photodetection{{cite journal | vauthors = Grabchev I, Staneva D, Chovelon JM |year=2010|title=Photophysical investigations on the sensor potential of novel, poly(propylenamine) dendrimers modified with 1,8-naphthalimide units|journal=Dyes and Pigments|volume=85|issue=3|pages=189–193|doi=10.1016/j.dyepig.2009.10.023}} amongst others. Research in this field is vast and ongoing due to the potential for multiple detection and binding sites in dendritic structures.

Dendrimers also are used in the synthesis of monodisperse metallic nanoparticles. Poly(amidoamine), or PAMAM, dendrimers are utilized for their tertiary amine groups at the branching points within the dendrimer. Metal ions are introduced to an aqueous dendrimer solution and the metal ions form a complex with the lone pair of electrons present at the tertiary amines. After complexation, the ions are reduced to their zerovalent states to form a nanoparticle that is encapsulated within the dendrimer. These nanoparticles range in width from 1.5 to 10 nanometers and are called dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles.{{cite journal | vauthors = Scott RW, Wilson OM, Crooks RM | title = Synthesis, characterization, and applications of dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles | journal = The Journal of Physical Chemistry B | volume = 109 | issue = 2 | pages = 692–704 | date = January 2005 | pmid = 16866429 | doi = 10.1021/jp0469665 }}

Given the widespread use of pesticides, herbicides and insecticides in modern farming, dendrimers are also being used by companies to help improve the delivery of agrochemicals to enable healthier plant growth and to help fight plant diseases.{{Cite web|url=http://www.labonline.com.au/content/life-scientist/news/dendrimer-technology-licensed-for-herbicide-701112647|title=Dendrimer technology licensed for herbicide|website=www.labonline.com.au|access-date=2016-09-25}}

Dendrimers are also being investigated for use as blood substitutes. Their steric bulk surrounding a heme-mimetic centre significantly slows degradation compared to free heme,{{cite journal|vauthors=Twyman LJ, Ge Y|date=April 2006|title=Porphyrin cored hyperbranched polymers as heme protein models|journal=Chemical Communications|issue=15|pages=1658–60|doi=10.1039/b600831n|pmid=16583011}}{{cite journal|vauthors=Twyman LJ, Ellis A, Gittins PJ|date=January 2012|title=Pyridine encapsulated hyperbranched polymers as mimetic models of haeme containing proteins, that also provide interesting and unusual porphyrin-ligand geometries|journal=Chemical Communications|volume=48|issue=1|pages=154–6|doi=10.1039/c1cc14396d|pmid=22039580}} and prevents the cytotoxicity exhibited by free heme.

Dendritic functional polymer polyamidoamine (PAMAM) is used to prepare core shell structure i.e. microcapsules and utilized in formulation of self-healing coatings of conventional{{cite journal | doi=10.1021/ie301813a | title=Novel Polyurea Microcapsules Using Dendritic Functional Monomer: Synthesis, Characterization, and Its Use in Self-healing and Anticorrosive Polyurethane Coatings | date=2013 | last1=Tatiya | first1=Pyus D. | last2=Hedaoo | first2=Rahul K. | last3=Mahulikar | first3=Pramod P. | last4=Gite | first4=Vikas V. | journal=Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research | volume=52 | issue=4 | pages=1562–1570 }} and renewable origins.{{cite journal | doi=10.1021/ie401237s | title=Polyurethane Prepared from Neem Oil Polyesteramides for Self-Healing Anticorrosive Coatings | date=2013 | last1=Chaudhari | first1=Ashok B. | last2=Tatiya | first2=Pyus D. | last3=Hedaoo | first3=Rahul K. | last4=Kulkarni | first4=Ravindra D. | last5=Gite | first5=Vikas V. | journal=Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research | volume=52 | issue=30 | pages=10189–10197 }}

Different generations of polyamidoamine dendrimers have recently been implemented as selective contacts in photovoltaic devices. {{cite journal | doi=10.1021/acsami.3c01930 | title=Elimination of Interface Energy Barriers Using Dendrimer Polyelectrolytes with Fractal Geometry | date=2023 | last1=Ros | first1=E. | last2=Tom | first2=T. | last3=Ortega | first3=P. | last4=Martin | first4=I. | last5=Maggi | first5=E. | last6=Asensi | first6=J. M. | last7=López-Vidrier | first7=J. | last8=Saucedo | first8=E. | last9=Bertomeu | first9=J. | last10=Puigdollers | first10=J. | last11=Voz | first11=C. | journal=ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces | volume=15 | issue=23 | pages=28705–28715 | pmid=37269290 | pmc=10802975 }}

Dendrimers in drug-delivery systems is an example of various host–guest interactions. The interaction between host and guest, the dendrimer and the drug, respectively, can either be hydrophobic or covalent. Hydrophobic interaction between host and guest is considered "encapsulated," while covalent interactions are considered to be conjugated. The use of dendrimers in medicine has shown to improve drug delivery by increasing the solubility and bioavailability of the drug. In conjunction, dendrimers can increase both cellular uptake and targeting ability, and decrease drug resistance.{{cite journal | title = Pharmaceutical applications of dendrimers: promising nanocarriers for drug discovery | journal = Frontiers in Bioscience | year = 2008 | volume = 13 | pages = 1447–1471 | doi = 10.2741/2774 | author1 = Cheng, Y. | author2 = Wang, J. | author3 = Rao, T. | author4 = He, X. | author5 = Xu, T. | issue = 13| pmid = 17981642 | doi-access = free }}

The solubility of various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) increases when they are encapsulated in PAMAM dendrimers.{{cite journal | title = Dendrimers as Potential Drug Carriers. Part I. Solubilization of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in the Presence of Polyamidoamine Dendrimers | journal = European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | year = 2005 | volume = 40 | pages = 1188–1192 | doi = 10.1016/j.ejmech.2005.06.010 | author1 = Cheng, Y. | author2 = Xu, T. | issue = 11| pmid = 16153746 }} This study shows the enhancement of NSAID solubility is due to the electrostatic interactions between the surface amine groups in PAMAM and the carboxyl groups found in NSAIDs. Contributing to the increase in solubility are the hydrophobic interactions between the aromatic groups in the drugs and the interior cavities of the dendrimer.{{cite journal | title = Polyamidoamine dendrimers used as solubility enhancers of ketoprofen | journal = European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | year = 2005| volume = 40 | pages = 1390–1393 | doi = 10.1016/j.ejmech.2005.08.002 | author1 = Cheng, Y. | author2 = Xu, T | author3 = Fu, R | issue = 12| pmid = 16226353 }} When a drug is encapsulated within a dendrimer, its physical and physiological properties remains unaltered, including non-specificity and toxicity. However, when the dendrimer and the drug are covalently linked together, it can be used for specific tissue targeting and controlled release rates.{{cite journal | title =Dendrimers as drug carriers: Applications in different routes of drug administration | journal = Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | year = 2007| volume = 97 | pages = 123–143 | doi = 10.1002/jps.21079 | author1 = Cheng, Y. | author2 = Xu, Z | author3 = Ma, M. | author4 = Xu, T.| issue = 1 | pmid = 17721949 }} Covalent conjugation of multiple drugs on dendrimer surfaces can pose a problem of insolubility.{{cite journal | title = Dendrimer–drug interactions | journal = Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews | year = 2005 | volume = 57| pages = 2147–2162 | doi = 10.1016/j.addr.2005.09.012 | author1 = D’Emanuele, A | author2 = Attwood, D | issue = 15 | pmid = 16310283}}

This principle is also being studied for cancer treatment application. Several groups have encapsulated anti-cancer medications such as: Camptothecin, Methotrexate, and Doxorubicin. Results from these research has shown that dendrimers have increased aqueous solubility, slowed release rate, and possibly control cytotoxicity of the drugs. Cisplatin has been conjugated to PAMAM dendrimers that resulted in the same pharmacological results as listed above, but the conjugation also helped in accumulating cisplatin in solid tumors in intravenous administration.{{cite journal | doi = 10.1097/00001813-199909000-00010 | title = Dendrimer-platinate: a novel approach to cancer chemotherapy | journal = Anti-Cancer Drugs | year = 1999 | volume = 10 | pages = 767–776 | author1 = Malik, N. | author2 = Evagorou, E. | author3 = Duncan, R. | issue = 8 | pmid=10573209}}

{{Commons category|Dendrimers}}

• Dendronized polymer
• Ferrocene-containing dendrimers
• Metallodendrimer

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

Category:Supramolecular chemistry