Drug Delivery
Nanomaterials have shown great promise for drug delivery because of their unique physical and chemical properties. They can be engineered to have specific sizes, shapes, and surface properties that allow them to interact with biological systems in a precise manner. Dendrimers are highly branched, tree-like macromolecules that have been studied as potential drug delivery systems. These unique polymers have a highly defined and controllable structure, with a core, shell, and outer surface that can be tailored to suit specific drug delivery needs.
Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery
- Liposomes
Liposomes are spherical vesicles made of a lipid bilayer that can encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. They have been extensively studied for drug delivery due to their biocompatibility and ability to target specific cells. - Polymer Nanoparticles
Polymer nanoparticles are typically made of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, such as poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Polymer nanoparticles have been used to deliver a variety of drugs, including anticancer agents, antibiotics, and vaccines. - Inorganic Nanoparticles
Inorganic nanoparticles, such as gold and silver nanoparticles, have unique optical and electronic properties that make them attractive for drug delivery applications. - Dendrimers
Dendrimers are branched, tree-like molecules that can be synthesized with precise control over their size, shape, and surface properties. They have a high degree of structural uniformity and can be functionalized with various functional groups to improve their drug delivery properties. Dendrimers have been shown to improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs and can also target specific cells and tissues.
Dendrimers as Drug Delivery Systems
Dendrimers are unique macromolecules with a highly branched, three-dimensional structure that is typically symmetrical and radially symmetric. They are composed of a core molecule, from which numerous branched layers extend outward to form a shell, and a final outer layer of functional groups that can be used to attach drugs or targeting molecules. Dendrimers have a high degree of control over their size, shape, and surface chemistry, which makes them an attractive platform for drug delivery. Dendrimers can be used to deliver a wide range of therapeutic agents, including small molecule drugs, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids. The drugs can be loaded onto the dendrimer surface or encapsulated within the dendrimer structure, protecting the drug from degradation in the body and allowing for controlled release over time.
Methods of drug delivery, including oral, injection, transdermal administration, inhalation, and topical application. The choice of delivery method depends on the nature of the drug, the desired therapeutic effect and the target tissue or organ. Dendrimers have a wide range of applications in drug delivery, including oral, topical, intravenous, gene delivery and imaging. As a nanomaterial, dendrimers can improve the delivery of small molecule drugs and enhance the efficacy and safety of these drugs in a variety of applications, including cancer therapy and gene delivery. The unique properties of dendrimer, such as their highly defined structure, size and surface properties, make them attractive candidates for the development of novel drug delivery systems. Dendrimer can enable drug delivery by the following delivery modes.
Various ways of delivering drugs by dendritic macromolecules. (Sherje AP, et al., 2018)
- Transdermal Drug Delivery
Dendrimers are used for transdermal drug delivery because of their small size and highly branched structure, allowing them to penetrate the stratum corneum, interact with skin lipids and disrupt the skin barrier. - Oral Drug Delivery
One of the key advantages of using dendrimers for oral drug delivery is their ability to form stable complexes with drugs, protecting them from degradation and enhancing their solubility. Additionally, dendrimers can be functionalized with targeting ligands or other functional groups to improve their specificity and efficacy. - Ocular Drug Delivery
Dendrimers are suitable for nebulized drug delivery. Dendrimers used for ocular drug delivery can overcome the ocular barrier through their small size, high surface area to volume ratio and ability to cross biological membranes, improving the penetration of drugs into ocular tissues. - Nebulized Drug Delivery
Dendrimers are highly branched, spherical, and nanoscale polymers that have unique properties, including a high surface area-to-volume ratio, well-defined structure, and the ability to encapsulate or attach various molecules suitable for nebulized drug delivery.
How We Can Help
CD BioSciences is committed to accelerating the development of dendrimers to significantly improve their use in biomedical applications. With our in-depth knowledge and experience in the synthesis and engineering of dendrimers, we are able to offer a high quality and tailored service to our customers. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us or send us an enquiry and we look forward to working with you on your attractive project.
Reference
- Sherje AP.; et al. Dendrimers: A versatile nanocarrier for drug delivery and targeting. Int J Pharm. 2018, 548: 707-720.
For research use only. Not for clinical use.
