Dendrimers and Dendrimers-Grafted Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, Functionalization, and Biological Applications in Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

Significant advances have been made in the recent past for design and development of drug delivery systems. Dendrimers are a class of hyperbranched polymers that originate from a central core with repetitive branching units, forming a globular structure. Dendrimers have developed into an interesting material for biochemical applications because they have suitable structural properties and controlled size. On the other hand, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are an extensively studied subclass of nanomaterials and they are known for their high magnetization and biocompatibility. As a result they can be utilized in various biomedical fields, including targeted drug delivery and biosensing. Recently, researchers have launched into combining the unique properties of dendrimer chemistry with the MNPs to offer a convenient to obtain platform for improved therapeutics and biomedical applications. Herein, we intend to present the developments made in dendrimer fabrication and dendrimers-based MNPs with varied surface structures and their contribution toward theranostics. © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.