Abstract
This review describes the strategy for the development of multifunctional dendrimeric and hyperbranched polymers, collectively named dendritic polymers, aiming at their application as drug and gene delivery systems. Employing well-characterized and mainly commercially available dendritic polymers, the functionalization of these polymers is aimed at providing drug carriers of low toxicity, high encapsulating capacity, specificity to certain type of cells and transport ability through their membranes. Following a step-wise functionalization strategy of the starting dendritic polymers one has the option to prepare products that fulfill one or more of these requirements. In particular, in addition to polyvalency which is a common feature of the dendritic polymers, these carriers bearing a number of targeting ligands exhibit specificity to certain cells, another type of groups secures stability in biological milieu and prolonged circulation, while other moieties facilitate their transport through cell membranes. Furthermore, dendritic polymers applied for gene delivery should be or become cationic in the biological environment for the formation of complexes with the negatively charged genetic material.
Keywords: Dendrimers, hyperbranched polymers, dendritic polymers, nanocarriers, drug delivery system, gene delivery
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Multifunctional Dendritic Drug Delivery Systems: Design, Synthesis, Controlled and Triggered Release
Volume: 8 Issue: 14
Author(s): Constantinos M. Paleos, Dimitris Tsiourvas, Zili Sideratou and Leto Tziveleka
Affiliation:
Keywords: Dendrimers, hyperbranched polymers, dendritic polymers, nanocarriers, drug delivery system, gene delivery
Abstract: This review describes the strategy for the development of multifunctional dendrimeric and hyperbranched polymers, collectively named dendritic polymers, aiming at their application as drug and gene delivery systems. Employing well-characterized and mainly commercially available dendritic polymers, the functionalization of these polymers is aimed at providing drug carriers of low toxicity, high encapsulating capacity, specificity to certain type of cells and transport ability through their membranes. Following a step-wise functionalization strategy of the starting dendritic polymers one has the option to prepare products that fulfill one or more of these requirements. In particular, in addition to polyvalency which is a common feature of the dendritic polymers, these carriers bearing a number of targeting ligands exhibit specificity to certain cells, another type of groups secures stability in biological milieu and prolonged circulation, while other moieties facilitate their transport through cell membranes. Furthermore, dendritic polymers applied for gene delivery should be or become cationic in the biological environment for the formation of complexes with the negatively charged genetic material.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Paleos M. Constantinos, Tsiourvas Dimitris, Sideratou Zili and Tziveleka Leto, Multifunctional Dendritic Drug Delivery Systems: Design, Synthesis, Controlled and Triggered Release, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2008; 8 (14) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156802608785848996
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156802608785848996 |
Print ISSN 1568-0266 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4294 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Chemistry Based on Natural Products for Therapeutic Purposes
The development of new pharmaceuticals for a wide range of medical conditions has long relied on the identification of promising natural products (NPs). There are over sixty percent of cancer, infectious illness, and CNS disease medications that include an NP pharmacophore, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Since NP ...read more
Current Trends in Drug Discovery Based on Artificial Intelligence and Computer-Aided Drug Design
Drug development discovery has faced several challenges over the years. In fact, the evolution of classical approaches to modern methods using computational methods, or Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD), has shown promising and essential results in any drug discovery campaign. Among these methods, molecular docking is one of the most notable ...read more
Drug Discovery in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), we have witnessed a significant boom in AI techniques for drug discovery. AI techniques are increasingly integrated and accelerating the drug discovery process. These developments have not only attracted the attention of academia and industry but also raised important questions regarding the selection ...read more
From Biodiversity to Chemical Diversity: Focus of Flavonoids
Flavonoids are the largest group of polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites arising from the essential aromatic amino acid phenylalanine (or more rarely from tyrosine) via the phenylpropanoid pathway. The flavan nucleus is the basic 15-carbon skeleton of flavonoids (C6-C3-C6), which consists of two phenyl rings (A and B) and a heterocyclic ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Multifaceted Mechanisms for Cell Survival and Drug Targeting in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Current Cancer Drug Targets Recent Advances in Improving Sub-Unit Vaccine Efficacy Using Cytokines as more Specific Immune Inducing Adjuvants
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Immunological Mechanism and Clinical Application of PAMP Adjuvants
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Lentinus edodes: A Macrofungus with Pharmacological Activities
Current Medicinal Chemistry Gene Therapy to Improve High-Density Lipoprotein Metabolism and Function
Current Pharmaceutical Design An HIV-Positive Patient Presenting with Malignant Bone Tumor in Left Tibia Treated with Microwave Ablation for Limb Salvage
Current HIV Research Oxidized Haemoglobin–Driven Endothelial Dysfunction and Immune Cell Activation: Novel Therapeutic Targets for Atherosclerosis
Current Medicinal Chemistry Development of Genetic Testing for Breast, Ovarian and Colorectal Cancer Predisposition: A Step Closer to Targeted Cancer Prevention
Current Drug Targets Natural Sesquiterpenoids as Cytotoxic Anticancer Agents
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Compounds from Wild Mushrooms with Antitumor Potential
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Impact of Human Immune Deficiency Virus Infection on Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Replication
Current HIV Research Exopolysaccharide Produced from <i>Rhizobium</i> spp. - An Interesting Product for Industry and Environment
Current Applied Polymer Science Docking Prediction for Luteolin Inhibiting TNF-α and NF-κB Pathway
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Telomere Maintenance Mechanisms in Cancer: Clinical Implications
Current Pharmaceutical Design Biomarkers for Systemic Therapy in Ovarian Cancer
Current Cancer Drug Targets Modulation of Sensitivity to Antitumor Agents by Targeting the MAPK Survival Pathway
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Crosstalk of RAS with the TGF-β Family During Carcinoma Progression and its Implications for Targeted Cancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets The Role of 3D Pharmacophore Mapping Based Virtual Screening for Identification of Novel Anticancer Agents: An Overview
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Focal Adhesion Kinase as a Cancer Therapy Target
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Structural and Functional Organization of miRNAs
Current Pharmacogenomics