The properties of dendrimers can be altered by several means. First, the size of the dendrimers created is highly manipulatable. Dendrimers are produced in iterative sequences of reaction steps, with each iteration creating one additional layer of monomer branches. Each reaction effectively doubles the molecular weight of the dendrimer as well as the amount of active end groups at the edge of the dendrimer, allowing for the creation of very well defined structures. The end groups themselves also play an important role in the functionality of dendrimers. By altering these "active" groups, one may control the way in which dendrimers react with their immediate environment.
There are many potential applications of dendrimers in medicine. Due to their solubility in water, dendrimers may be used as nano-sized capsules through which to transport insoluble drugs in the human body. Dendrimers may essentially be used as highly manipulative biological coats designed to allow drugs to enter target cells without risking degradation or rejection. This coat function may also be used to deliver insoluble imaging agents to cells of interest for fluorescent imaging. Dendimers may also be made into insoluble scaffolds when specific cross-linking groups are used as the end groups. These insoluble scaffolds may be used to repair damaged tissue.
Dendimers are interesting because of the vast amount of potential functions that they offer. Simple alterations in dendrimer shape or end group composition can have profound effects on the properties of that dendrimer. Morover, the simple carbon makeup of these dendimers make them easily biodegradable and safe for medical use in humans. For a comprehensive review of dendimer properties and functions, see this article published in Nature Biotechnology.
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