Dendrimer: A Novel Polymer

Dendrimers are a unique class of synthetic macromolecules having highly branched, three-dimensional,nan scale architecture with very low polydispersity and high functionality. These features have madetheir application in nanotechnology, pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry particularly attractive.Synthetic approaches lead to a dendritic architecture with properties amenable to modifications of shape,size, polarity, surface properties and internal structure. Nanoparticle drug-delivery systems are thepopular ones as are able to increase the selectivity and stability of therapeutic agents. Howeverreticuloendothelial system (RES) uptake, drug leakage, immunogenicity, hemolytic toxicity,cytotoxicity, hydrophobicity restrict the use of these nanostructures. These shortcomings are overcomeby surface engineering the dendrimer such as Polyester dendrimer, Citric acid dendrimer, Argininedendrimer, Glycodendrimers, PEGylated dendrimers, etc. The bioactive agents can be easilyencapsulated into the interior of the dendrimers or chemically attached i.e. conjugated or physicallyadsorbed onto the dendrimer surface, serving the desired properties of the carrier to the specific needs ofthe active material and its therapeutic applications. In addition to supplying a multivalent backbone fordrug attachment, dendrimers also provide access to various new polymer architectures that arepotentially relevant to drug delivery applications.